Germany has placed a major follow-on order with Rheinmetall for 30mm ammunition to support the Bundeswehr’s Puma infantry fighting vehicle fleet, reinforcing its armored forces amid broader military modernization efforts. The procurement, valued at several hundred million euros, falls under a framework agreement signed in December 2022 covering 30mm×173 ammunition for the Puma IFV.
Under the expanded contract, which runs through 2029, Rheinmetall will deliver significantly higher volumes than originally planned, increasing the overall value of the agreement. While initial deliveries have already been made, the company is expected to supply several hundred thousand rounds, with the total contract volume estimated at around €1 billion ($1.1 billion).
The Puma IFV is armed with Rheinmetall’s MK30-2/ABM 30mm cannon, capable of firing programmable airburst munitions with an effective range exceeding 2,000 meters. Among the ammunition types included is Rheinmetall’s KE-TF round, which is optimized to engage soft and semi-hardened targets, including unmanned aerial systems.
The ammunition order complements Germany’s wider investment in the Puma program. Earlier this month, Berlin awarded a €4.2-billion contract to Rheinmetall and KNDS Deutschland for the delivery of 200 additional Puma IFVs, with deliveries beginning in mid-2028 and integration of the MELLS anti-tank guided missile system.
