On February 24, 2023, the Polish Deputy Prime Minister of Defence Mariusz Błaszczak announced that Poland plans to order 1,000 Borsuk, Polish-made tracked armored IFVs (Infantry fighting Vehicles) manufactured by a consortium led by the Polish company Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW).
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
HWS Borsuk tracked armored IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle at MSPO 2019, defense exhibition in Kielce, Poland. (Picture source Army Recognition)
The Borsuk consortium includes Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW), a subsidiary of Polish Armaments Group (Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa, PGZ) as well as other Polish companies including Ośrodek Badawczo-Rozwojowy Urządzeń Mechanicznych OBRUM Sp. z o.o., Wojskowe Zakłady Motoryzacyjne S.A., ROSOMAK S.A., Wojskowe Zakłady Elektroniczne S.A., Akademia Sztuki Wojennej, Wojskowa Akademia Techniczna, Wojskowy Instytut Techniki Pancernej i Samochodowej and Politechnika Warszaws.
On November 15, 2022, Army Recognition editorial team reported that the Borsuk IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) has been tested by the 15th Mechanized Brigade of the Polish army, as the successor of the Soviet-made BWP-1 IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicle), the Polish version of the Soviet-made BMP-1, currently in service with the Polish army.
The development of the Borsuk IFV began in 2013 with the Polish defense company Huta Stalowa Wola. The prototype of the vehicle was unveiled in 2016, and the testing and evaluation phase began in 2017. As of my knowledge cutoff of September 2021, the vehicle was still undergoing testing and evaluation by the Polish Army, and it had not yet entered service.
The Borsuk IFV is based on a modular design that allows it to be easily reconfigured for various mission requirements. It can be equipped with various weapons, including a 30mm automatic cannon, a 7.62mm machine gun, and anti-tank missiles. The vehicle also has advanced sensors, communication systems, and defensive measures.
The Borsuk IFV is built on a tracked chassis consisting on each side of six road wheels with a drive sprocket at the front and an idler at the rear. It features a composite rubber track system supplied by the Canadian company Soucy Defense that provides several advantages over wheeled vehicles, particularly in terms of off-road mobility and stability.
The Borsuk IFV has a crew of three including the commander, gunner and driver, and can carry up to eight fully equipped infantry soldiers. The vehicle has a top speed of 70 km/h and a range of up to 500 km. It is designed to operate in various terrain and weather conditions.
