Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/713424
increased by a system of five external cameras. Three of them, including one day-night used for mowing backwards, have been mounted at the back of the hull. The other two have been mounted on top of the sides. The image from cameras may be displayed both on the screens of crew members, as well as on two screens available for the assault soldiers. Those two screens increase situation awareness of sol- diers before critical moments (as trotting off). External communication measures of Puma in- clude SEM 80/90 and SOLAR 400 intercom sys- tems. SOTAS-IP system is used for the purpose of communicating crew members, soldiers in the vehicle, and the dismounted soldiers. The vehicle has been facilitated with an IFIS battlefield management system that allows two-way exchange of information with the headquarters and other machines with an IFIS system. The system has also been adjusted to cooperate with communication measures de- veloped in the project of "soldier of the future" (Infanterist der Zukunft, IdZ) called Gladius. The final configuration of C4I system devices has not been determined yet. Some elements of Puma's equipment have been introduced in order to simplify operation and performance of tasks by logistics services. Those solutions include an on-board diagnos- tic system, which allows logging errors and facilitates servicing. Fire power The main armament of Puma is an automatic 30 mm MK 30-2/ABM cannon mounted in rotating turret. The abbreviation "ABM" stands for Air Burst Ammunition. The programmer telecoil is placed at the end of the barrel, before the muz- zle brake. MK 30-2/ABM is fully gas-operated gun in which not only the movement of the bolt but also the ammunition feeding are gas pressure operated via gas pistons. All movable parts, such as return springs, gas piston and buffer are installed along the gun axis to elim- inate transverse loads that adversely affect gun motion, thus ensuring an excellent dis- persion. The breech system consists of double supporting flaps with a long rigid locking time. The armament may be fed from two sides, which allows usage of two basic types of am- munition. The time required for switching one magazines to another is about 4 seconds. The "natural" theoretical rate of fire of the cannon is 700 RPM. However, in the case of Puma, it was decided to lower that value to 200 RPM in order to maintain high accuracy. The am- munition load of the vehicle is 400 rounds, the half of which is in the turret, ready for use. The remaining ammo is placed in trays in the top of the combat-assault compartment. The 30 mm cannon may be guided at the target in vertical plane within -10 to +25 degrees. Used casings are thrown out through an outlet window in www.fragoutmag.com