The Puma is an Israeli heavy combat engineering vehicle on a Centurion/Sho't hull, built to move combat engineers under armor while breaching obstacles and clearing routes. During the 2023 Israel-Hamas War, IDF engineering units used it in Gaza operations, including a Khan Yunis incident documented by the IDF and Israeli press.
In the 2006 Lebanon War, an Australian Army Research Centre account by an IDF officer describes a Puma armored vehicle bringing supplies at night during the fighting, supporting a narrow protected-mobility role rather than a complete order-of-battle claim.
In the 2008 Gaza War, Australian Army Research Centre analysis of Operation Cast Lead states that Israeli infantry and support personnel moved in M113, Achzarit, and Puma armored vehicles, while an Institute for Palestine Studies arsenal survey also listed Puma APCs among Israeli armored vehicles deployed in the campaign.
In the 2014 Gaza War, Israeli press reporting on Operation Protective Edge identified a Puma APC involved in an anti-tank rocket incident, directly tying the vehicle type to Israeli ground operations in Gaza.
In the 2023 Israel-Hamas War, IDF-reported Gaza operations placed Puma engineering vehicles in northern Gaza route-clearance work with D9R bulldozers, later showed Puma vehicles fitted with CARPET launchers against Hamas tunnels and positions, and identified a 605th Combat Engineering Battalion Puma in a 2025 Khan Yunis incident.
Role detailsOpen sources show the Puma in several protected engineering roles rather than one fixed configuration. The recurring pattern is armored movement for engineers or support personnel, with mission equipment changing by route-clearance, breaching, or force-protection need.
| Role | Documented context | Representative sources |
|---|---|---|
| Protected support movement | A 2006 Lebanon War account describes a Puma bringing supplies at night under combat conditions. | Cove Second Lebanon War Puma Account |
| Heavy protected movement in Gaza | Operation Cast Lead analysis places Puma vehicles with M113 and Achzarit carriers moving Israeli infantry and support personnel. | AARC Short War Cast Lead |
| Engineering route clearance | October 2023 Gaza reporting described Puma engineering vehicles operating with D9R bulldozers and Merkava tanks in northern Gaza. | Army Recognition Northern Gaza Raid |
| Explosive breaching launcher carrier | CARPET-equipped Puma vehicles were reported in Gaza against Hamas tunnels and positions. | Army Recognition Carpet in Gaza; Defense Update CARPET system |
The Puma page is best read as a heavy protected engineering-vehicle record, not as a single fixed armament package. Sources describe a Sho't/Centurion-derived hull adapted for route clearance, engineer movement, and breaching support, with attachments selected for the mission.
Weaponsystems.net describes the Puma as carrying combat engineers under armor, while 2006 and 2008 conflict sources place the vehicle in protected support or infantry-support movement.
Open sources document front-mounted mine rollers or dozer blades and 2023 Gaza use alongside D9R bulldozers during path-clearing operations.
Defense Update describes CARPET as a rear-mounted fuel-air mine-breaching launcher, and Army Recognition documented CARPET-equipped Puma vehicles in Gaza.
Sources: Weaponsystems.net Puma; Cove Second Lebanon War Puma Account; AARC Short War Cast Lead; Defense Update CARPET system; Army Recognition Northern Gaza Raid; Army Recognition Carpet in Gaza.
Puma field configurations center on combat-engineering attachments, a rear breaching launcher, and later remotely operated weapon-station fits rather than separate production models.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Puma with CARPET mine-clearing system | Rear mine-breaching launcher configuration | Open references document the Puma carrying the CARPET launcher at the rear, while Army Recognition reported IDF Puma vehicles fitted with Carpet during Gaza operations. Sources: Weaponsystems.net Puma, Defense Update CARPET system, Army Recognition Carpet in Gaza, Wikimedia Commons CARPET-Puma001 |
| Puma with mine roller or dozer blade | Front engineering attachment configuration | Weaponsystems.net describes dozer blade and mine-roller equipment as front-mounted engineering attachments for the Puma. Sources: Weaponsystems.net Puma |
| Puma with Draconith remote weapon station | Remote weapon station fit | Wikimedia Commons photo metadata identifies a Draconith RCWS installed on an IDF Puma CEV, and Defense News reported Elbit's Dragon RCWS as the selected fit for Puma and Achzarit heavy APCs. Sources: Wikimedia Commons Draconith-RCWS-02, Defense News Dragon RCWS |
The Puma can be configured as a carrier for vehicle-mounted breaching equipment when route-clearance work calls for an explosive mine-clearing launcher.
| Carried item | Item type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Fuel-air mine-clearing rocket launcher | Defense Update describes CARPET as an add-on launcher that can be fitted to armored vehicles, and Army Recognition documented the system mounted on Puma tracked engineer vehicles in Gaza. Sources: Defense Update CARPET system, Army Recognition Carpet in Gaza |
Weaponsystems.net places Puma service entry in 1988 and describes the vehicle as a Sho't/Centurion-based dedicated combat-engineering conversion for Israeli mechanized forces.
Sources: Weaponsystems.net Puma
An Australian Army Research Centre account by an IDF officer describes a Puma armored vehicle bringing supplies at night during the 2006 Lebanon War.
Sources: Cove Second Lebanon War Puma Account
Australian Army Research Centre analysis and an Institute for Palestine Studies equipment survey both place Puma armored vehicles in Israeli Operation Cast Lead ground-force context.
Sources: AARC Short War Cast Lead, Journal of Palestine Studies Cast Lead Arsenal
Haaretz reporting on IDF fatalities in Operation Protective Edge identified a Puma APC struck by an anti-tank rocket during the 2014 Gaza War.
Sources: Haaretz Operation Protective Edge IDF Fatalities
Army Recognition, citing IDF reporting, described Puma heavy armored engineering vehicles operating with D9R bulldozers and Merkava Mk.4 tanks during a nighttime raid in northern Gaza.
Sources: Army Recognition Northern Gaza Raid
Army Recognition reported IDF video showing Puma tracked engineering vehicles equipped with CARPET mine-clearing systems against Hamas tunnels and positions in the Gaza Strip.
Sources: Army Recognition Carpet in Gaza
The IDF said a Puma vehicle from the 605th Combat Engineering Battalion was involved in Khan Yunis operations when an explosive device was attached to the vehicle.
Sources: IDF June 25, 2025 Briefing
