Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/713424
In general, additional panels give Puma protection at a tank level. It will re- sist up to 30mm sub-caliber rounds, RPG war- heads, old gen ATGM's (with single warheads) and EFP explosives used in mines and IEDs. The "C" set also includes slabs fixed to the walls of the turret, as well as mounted on the tops of the turret and the hull. Special panels are used for this purpose. Their upper surface is covered with rubber protrusions. Such covers, that look like a doormat, are to protect the tops against armor-piercing artillery sub-ammunition. Many types of sub-caliber ammuntutuin with cumulative warheads is open from the bot- tom, which, in the moment of falling onto the cover, allows the aforementioned protrusions get into the cone formed by the cumulative in- sert. That protective mechanism is based on a long-known phenomenon that involves strong interference of the cumulative beam formation process in the case of "foreign matter" in the empty space of the insert. Special focus was put on anti-mine protection. The bottom plate has a layered construction. If a detonation occurs under the track, the energy of the explosion is partially absorbed by sus- pension modules. The bottom and sides of the hull are resistant to explosions of armor-pierc- ing explosives and IEDs with strength of at least 10 kg of TNT and mines or formed charge explosives. The chances of the crew and carried troops to get out of the attack without losing combat abilities have been increased by the application of special seats mounted to the top or walls of the combat-assault compartment. All seats have been facilitated with multi-point safety belts and footrests (except for the driv- er). Special holders for individual weapons have also been provided. In the airtight combat-assault compartment, there is a fire, explosion-proof, and WMD pro- tection system integrated with air condition- ing. In the final phase, Puma vehicles are to receive MUSS (Multifunktionales Selbstschutz- System/Multifunction Self Protection System). It includes a set of laser beam radiation sen- sors and UV detectors for incoming missiles (designed on the base of AN/AAR-60 aircraft system), a control computer with a control dis- play, as well as a set of countermeasures re- sponsible for interrupting the guiding process of enemy missiles. The "effectors" of MUSS are 76 mm smoke grenade launchers that provide camouflage effect in visible and infrared spec- trums. Two launchers, eight barrels each, have been mounted in both corners at the back of the turret (prototypes had one launcher placed behind the back edge of the turret). What is more, MUSS has an infrared illuminator placed on a special plinth above the head of the PERI RTWL periscope. The device is used in the way similar to the Russian TSzU-1-7 Shtora (English curtain) system: it emits modulated flashes that imitate a missile tracer in order to mis- lead the tracking system when it comes to the actual position of the missile. As a result, the guiding system starts sending corrective sig- nals, which leads to a change of trajectories of the missile, which misses its target. The accuracy of the system is limited to projectiles guided in a semi-automatic mode – missiles guided at a laser tracer or the "fire and for- get" type are dealt with thanks to the already mentioned comprehensive smoke cover. MUSS is able to counter a maximum of four simulta- neous threats. The range for monitoring of the vehicle's surroundings is 360° horizontally and from 0° to +70° vertically. VEHICLES