Story:

The basic layout of the Puma is lifted directly from the Leviathan-designed Dingo, with some allowances made to cut production costs. First, the Puma is shorter and lighter than most suits, and lacks the ability to mount heavy armor pods over its limbs and body. Instead, the machine takes a cue from the old Ark Nova-built Braver, and possesses even performance levels and a wide variety of optional weapons (a sample of which are provided above). This allows the suit to be fitted with for several different missions, or with whatever hand weaponry is available.

Despite the generic look of the machine, and its dependency on optional equipment to give it any distinction, the Puma does possess a few innovative features. Its standard Colloid bracer is a medium shield that releases gas particles over its surface, giving it the ability to deflect incoming beam attacks. Also, its armor is a plated composite alloy, which is lighter and more durable than older titanium.

Besides the standard Puma that is sold to space colonies, governments, and other organizations, there is also a customized variant that was formerly used by cadets and low-ranking soldiers of the Newtype Corps. These versions had been optimized for Newtypes, and had optional weapons like launchable wire arms that replaced one or both of the suit's forearms, each finger ending in a barrel for a particle gun (these hands are too awkward to hold weapons). Their appearence had also been altered to fit with the standard look of the Corps' mobile weapons. Eventually, however, the Corps' constant upgrades to its mobile suit squadrons phased these machines out of service. Most of them ended up in storage, were stripped for spare parts, or were sold to pirates and mercenaries working for the organization.