The German Bundeswehr showcased its Puma S1 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) equipped with a counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) from Dedrone at the Eurosatory 2024 defence exhibition held in Paris from 17 to 21 June.
Known as DedroneSensor RF-300, the system is designed to passively detect, classify, and locate commercial unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and their remote-control signals.
According to the company, it can automatically track and map UAV flightpaths and pilot locations and provide information on “hot spots” of ‘drone’ activity.
The vehicle was demonstrated to the Bundeswehr in this configuration, where it proved capable of detecting a swarm of nine UAVs before the turret destroyed the threat, Mathias Kraus, head of sales at Projekt System & Management (PSM), informed Janes .
This latest configuration has been proposed to the Bundeswehr, Kraus added.
PSM alongside Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall are upgrading the Bundeswehr’s fleet of Puma IFVs to the S1 standard.
The upgrade includes equipping the Puma with the Multirole-capable Light Missile System (MELLS), the Bundeswehr’s designation for Spike LR; digital radio equipment; the IdZ-ES expanded future soldier system; high-resolution day- and night-vision camera systems for the driver; and the mounted infantry squad and optronics for the gunner and commander.
Source: Janes