The Federal Ministry of Defence (BMVg) has decided to
have a new Armoured Infantry Vehicle "Puma" developed as the successor to the
Armoured Infantry Vehicle "Marder" by German industry on the basis, to a large
extent, of existing components.
The "Marder" Armoured Infantry Vehicle has proved to be a reliable weapon system
in the last 30 years. It does not however have the characteristics demanded today of a modern
Armoured Infantry Vehicle. This affects above all the armoured elements, the weaponry and
the drive concept. Therefore the "Marder" is to be replaced by the new Armoured
Infantry Vehicle "Puma" in the next few years. Simulation systems will be used
in the compilation of the system capability and functional requirements made of the "Puma",
which will simulate the new "Puma" concept in all important details and be used
as a virtual prototype in a similarly simulated operative environment.
The simulation concept developed by IABG and presented in the following represents an important
support tool for industry and government agencies in the currently envisaged accelerated
development phase.
Simulation systems are already available at IABG, which can cover the technical aspects
of "Puma". IABG can also contribute to the simulation of the operative environment
with the PABST 2000 system ("PABST" stands for Panzerabwehr-Bewertungsinstrument
[anti-tank assessment tool]).
When compiling a simulation system, which is as exact as possible in its details for the
"Puma", the task is faced of combining the existing simulation systems into an
integrated simulation one, whereby also the requirements interoperability and re-usability
must be taken into account. Thereby, in particular, the inclusion of one or several active
users (so-called Man-in-the-Loop Simulation, MILSim) are to be taken into consideration.
At IABG, this concept has been used for some years in the "MILSim Luftwaffe"
(MILSim Air Force) system for the development of Air Force systems and for technical-operational
investigations. This system is currently being re-implemented on the basis of a new simulation
framework, which permits simulation systems, even with differing technical requirements,
to be combined together to an integrated simulation system.
It therefore makes sense to use an analogous concept "MILSim Heer" for similar
concepts for the Army.
"MILSim Heer" is outstandingly suitable for the intensive investigation of new
Army weapons systems. The "Puma" is the first example of this.
10/02/02
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