Puma (Italian armoured fighting vehicle)


The Puma is an Italian light wheeled armoured fighting vehicle family, consisting of the Puma 6×6 and the Puma 4×4. The vehicles were developed and are produced by the Consorzio Iveco Fiat – Oto Melara for the Italian Army. First prototypes completed in 1988, with a total of five testbed vehicles being completed by 1990.
The 4x4 variant carries 3 troop members plus the driver, the 6×6 variant carries 6 troops plus driver.

History

At first the Puma was intended to complement the B1 Centauro wheeled tank destroyer in service with the Italian Army's Cavalry Regiments, but ultimately most light infantry regiments of the Italian Army also received Pumas. At the end of 1999, the Italian Army ordered 610 Puma vehicles, 360 of the 6×6 configuration, and 250 4×4 vehicles. First vehicles were completed in mid-2003.
The 4×4 variant carries two soldiers in addition to the driver and gunner, and is used in pairs for battlefield reconnaissance. The 6X6 version carries four soldiers plus driver and gunner, and together with another Puma 6×6 can carry an Italian infantry squad of eight men. In 2007 the Italian Army ordered 19 Hitrole 12.7mm machine gun remote controlled turrets from Oto Melara and is planning to add extra armor to the vehicle.
In March 2013, Italy donated 20 of its Puma 4×4 vehicles to the Libyan National Army to face terrorism threats and reaffirm friendly ties with the former colony.
In April 2024, a destroyed Puma was seen in drone footage near Bilohorivka, Luhansk Oblast, suggesting the vehicle was in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, although no record of their deliveries was made.

Operators