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Reuters
Reuters
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Puma fighting vehicle to return to key NATO mission in first half of 2023 - Berlin

FILE PHOTO: A Puma infantry fighting vehicle of German army Bundeswehr takes part in an exercise during a media day in Munster, Germany September 28, 2018. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer

Germany expects to field Puma infantry fighting vehicles for a key NATO mission in the first half of 2023, its chief of defence said on Friday, after Berlin had to withdraw the Puma from the alliance's quick reaction force due to problems in a drill.

"As soon as we have sufficient vehicles repaired and operational for one company, we will use it for the VJTF," Eberhard Zorn said, referring to NATO's Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF).

Germany this year leads the alliance's quick reaction unit that constitutes NATO's first line of response and reinforcement in case of a conflict or heightened tensions with Russia.

German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht addresses the media on the Puma battle tanks, following a meeting at the Ministry of Defence in Berlin, Germany, January 13, 2023. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

"I very strongly expect this (to see the Puma ready for the VJTF) in the first half of the year," Zorn added.

In December, Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht said Germany would not purchase any more Pumas until they had proven themselves reliable, after several were put out of service during a military drill.

The Puma is an armed, armoured vehicle that carries troops into battle.

German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht and representatives of arms manufacturers Rheinmetall AG's CEO Armin Papperger and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann's CEO Ralf Ketzel address the media on the Puma battle tanks, following a meeting at the Ministry of Defence in Berlin, Germany, January 13, 2023. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Shares in Rheinmetall AG, which manufactures the armoured vehicles together with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co (KMW), went down 7% after the minister's announcement.

For the VJTF, Germany replaced the Puma temporarily with decades-old Marder infantry fighting vehicles - which the more advanced Puma is meant to succeed in future.

Germany has vowed to boost defence spending and modernise its military in the wake of the Ukraine war.

FILE PHOTO: Soldiers conduct an exercise with the new German Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle AIFV Puma for the German armed forces, to mark the 50th anniversary of the German army at an army training area in Munster May 2, 2006. The AIFV Puma will be introduced into the army by the end of 2009

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold and Miranda Murray, editing by Rachel More)

FILE PHOTO: The new German Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle AIFV Puma for the German armed forces is pictured during an exercise to mark the 50th anniversary of the German army at an army training area in Munster May 2, 2006. The AIFV Puma will be introduced into the army by the end of 2009.
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