“JUMP,” LEE “PUMA” IN THE BUNDESWEHR?

A variant of the BMP “Puma”, “A”level:

 

1 – 30-mm automatic gun; 2 – the desert tower; 3 – the slave wheel; 4 – support roller; 5 – side armor plate; 6 – the driving wheel; 7 – the engine-transmission compartment; 8 – unit smoke grenade launchers; 9 – commander’s turret hatch; 10 – the troop compartment; 11 – driver’s hatch; 12 – unit of observation devices of the driver; 13 – the commander’s panoramic sight; 14 – gunner; 15 – stern door with ramp

Weight reconnaissance vehicle “Puma”, “A” level is equal to 31,5 t, level “C” – more than 43 T. On the technical task in the project was the speed of the machine at least 70 km/h. At this weight, especially as BMP “S”, given the mobility could only be achieved by the formulation of a powerful engine. For example, to ensure acceptable performance of the tank is its power density (the ratio of engine power to the combat mass of the tank) it is desirable to have at least 20 HP/ton For infantry fighting vehicles more mobile and agile, especially as conceived, sophisticated, desirable and a lot more. Therefore, the “Puma” has put the engine capacity of 1073 L. S. In this case, the power density of the machine was very important to 34.1 HP/t for level “A”, “C”, at least to 24.9 HP/t in service with the different countries of the BMP, this ratio is significantly lower. So, for us M2A2 Bradley with a mass of 33 tons and an engine power of 500 HP – 15,15 HP/t, German A3 Marder (33,5 tons and 600 HP) persons-17.9 HP/t, slightly higher in English MCV-80 “warrior” is 23.4 HP/t at 23.5 tons, and 550 HP at the expense of reduced mass. Note that modern tanks, for example, American M1A2 “Abrams” and the German 2A5 Leopard specific power – 24,0 HP/t, Mk3 Israeli “Merkava” – 20 HP/t.

 

The engine on the “Puma” has put diesel 10-cylinder MTU 10V 892 HPD four-stroke turbocharged V-neck, designed by German firm MTU. Its power, recall, is equal to 1073 HP, almost twice the power of the engines, the existing BMP.

 

Diesel has two turbochargers, which provides five times the compression ratio of the air supplied. Has a dual-circuit liquid cooling system, equipped with electronic control systems, electrofocusing start to ensure start-up at low temperatures, the starter-generator.

 

Automatic transmission HSWL mounted in a single unit with the engine; it provides six speeds forward and one reverse gear. The controlled transmission having a torque Converter with lock up clutch, electrohydraulic.

 

The undercarriage of the vehicle – pyatikhatka on each side from the drive wheel on the front. Suspension-individual, independent, hydropneumatic.

 

THE SPECIFIC CAPACITY OF SOME BMP

 

 

The troop compartment is in the aft part of the BMP. It can accommodate six people in full uniform and a personal weapon. Their seats are fixed along the sides; they are made suspension to reduce the vulnerability of soldiers when possible explosions underneath the car. In the roof of the housing for entry and exit are two oval hatch and in the feed – door with a sloping ramp, having an actuator.

 

Such is the design of the newly established in Germany, infantry fighting vehicles, claiming the “palm” among modern armored vehicles. Indeed, the “Puma” has a very high security compared to other BMPs. Equipped with effective automatic weapons with the use of sophisticated control systems for complex munitions with remote detonation. The machine is fast, has good maneuverability.

 

However, a number of German military experts believe that the new IFV is too heavy and can be transported by air only in the “A” level. The transfer of the machines “With” complicated: they must be transported separately from the protection modules, and for every three modules will require additional aircraft. It turns out that, in this case, infantry fighting vehicles “C” given the level of additional costs will be comparable to a tank.

 

Other experts draw attention to the discrepancy between the relative small caliber 30-mm cannons and combat vehicle weight – requires stronger caliber at least 50 mm and on the need to replace 5.56 mm machine gun on the larger 7,62-mm. in addition, the BMP did not have the means to fight a well-protected armored vehicles, especially tanks.

 

Further, a number of critics believe obviously overestimated the height of the “Cougars” that will affect not only the possibility of disguise, but also to increase the extent of injury. So, its height is 3050 mm, while, for example, BMP M3 “Bradley” the height of the roof of the tower – 2580 mm, MCV-80 “Warrior” -2790 mm. Even a tank “Leopard 2” has a smaller height – 2790 mm.

 

In turn, also been affected by purely technical issues, such as unsatisfactory performance of the wireless data interface, night vision systems, a bad review from the driver, etc.

 

Finally, the cost. In 2012 due to budgetary constraints, the number of requested military machinery reduced from 405 to 350. It is assumed that currently the value of each unit will be approximately 7 million euros. So, “Puma” will be one of the most expensive IFV in the world. Manufacturers immediately expressed doubts that export it will not go again because of such a high cost.

 

On 18 October last year the Minister of defence of Germany Thomas de Mezieres in the report to the Bundestag reported that “a promising infantry fighting vehicle “Puma” until adopted by the German army and begins to enter the army in mid-2014 as previously planned”. Thus, the major project in the field of land armament of the Bundeswehr the last two decades found themselves in a situation full of uncertainty. Therefore, the title of the article posed the question: would a modern infantry fighting vehicles, created using many of the latest achievements of military equipment, but also the most expensive, adopted by the Bundeswehr?

 

 

V. TALANOV