The development of the New Armoured Infantry Vehicle "Puma" – an example of the use of "MILSim Heer" (military simulation for the Army)

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.