The Puma Armoured Fighting Vehicles are a family of light wheeled armoured vehicles developed in 4x4 and 6x6 configuration by the Consorzio Iveco Fiat in Rome. The Puma were developed for the Italian Army to complement the fleet f Centauro Tank Destroyer. Iveco Fiat were awarded a contract by the Italian Army for the development of Puma platforms carrying missiles, a mortar carrier, an ambulance and a command post vehicle. At the end of 1999, the Italian Army ordered 580 Puma vehicles, 250 of the 6x6 configuration, and 330 4x4 vehicles. First vehicle were completed in mid-2003. The Puma was first deployed operationally in Southern Iraq in early 2005
