Borsuk IFV.

Technical Data

• Armament

  The Borsuk’s primary weapon system is the ZSSW-30 remote-controlled turret, one of the most advanced modular combat systems in its class. Developed jointly by HSW and WB Group, the turret is designed for full digital integration with external command networks, as well as precision engagement across the full spectrum of land warfare threats.

  Its main gun, the 30mm Mk44S Bushmaster II chain gun, offers dual-feed capability and is adaptable to future munitions, including programmable Air Burst Munitions (ABM) and next-generation smart rounds. The weapon delivers high accuracy and a consistent cyclic rate of 200 rounds per minute (standard) and 120 rounds per minute (ABM). Its elevated angle of fire, ranging from –9° to +60°, allows effective engagement in urban environments, mountainous terrain, and against low-flying aerial targets such as UAVs.

  With 300 rounds of 30mm ammunition stored in the first-stage autoloader—over 200 of which can be ABM—the Borsuk provides one of the largest ready-to-fire ammo loads among NATO IFVs, ensuring prolonged engagement capability without immediate resupply. This is complemented by a 7.62mm UKM-2000C coaxial machine gun, with 250 rounds ready to fire, suitable for suppressing infantry and soft-skinned targets.

  Anti-armor capability is provided by two Israeli-made Spike-LR ATGMs (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles) housed in an armored external launch pod on the turret’s right flank. Unlike retractable internal launchers, this modular pod design reduces risk to internal systems and enhances combat flexibility by enabling field-level replacement of damaged launchers. The Spike-LR offers precision strike at 4 km in manual mode and up to 4.5 km in fire-and-forget mode, with tandem-charge warheads capable of penetrating reactive and composite armor.

  Importantly, all primary weapons can be reloaded from within the turret, and ATGMs are serviced through a rear hull hatch, allowing full rearmament under armor—a feature borrowed from the U.S. M2 Bradley and a notable enhancement for crew survivability during prolonged engagements.

• Design and protection

  The Borsuk's chassis is constructed from Armox 500T welded steel plates, utilizing a modular architecture that functions as spaced armor, maximizing deflection and absorption of kinetic energy. The baseline protection offers STANAG 4569 Level IV against 14.5mm AP projectiles from the front and Level III protection on the sides and rear, shielding against 7.62mm and artillery splinters. The underbelly protection meets Levels IIIa and IIIb for resistance to anti-tank mines and improvised explosive devices.

  According to battlefield analysis and unofficial technical assessments, the frontal arc has resisted direct fire from Russian 30mm 3UBR6 and 3UBR8 rounds, indicating armor performance above standard NATO certifications. The sides reportedly resist 12.7mm and even 14.5mm AP rounds, though repeated impacts from the latter may compromise the engine bay. The vehicle is designed for up-armoring with modular armor kits, including appliqué frontal plates and side armor panels introduced post-2018, providing scalable protection based on threat environments.

  Internally, the crew layout ensures survivability and situational functionality. The driver is positioned on the front-left, adjacent to the engine module on the right, with the unmanned ZSSW-30 turret centrally mounted to reduce exposure. The rear compartment seats six fully equipped infantrymen in blast-attenuating seats with rapid egress via an electrically operated rear ramp. This compartment is overpressurized and sealed, offering full NBC protection, ensuring crew survivability in chemically or radiologically contaminated environments.

  The turret armor, though officially undisclosed, reportedly includes a composite matrix comprising polyethylene fabric sandwiched between ballistic steel plates, with alumina ceramic inserts on the ATGM container. This layered defense offers Level III protection to core systems and Level II for exposed components, such as optical sights. Add-on armor kits and camouflage nets can be mounted via pre-integrated external brackets, offering environmental adaptability.

• Mobility

  The Borsuk Infantry Fighting Vehicle is engineered for exceptional off-road agility and amphibious versatility, underpinned by a robust and highly efficient powertrain. At the heart of the platform is the MTU 8V199 TE20 turbocharged diesel engine, a compact yet powerful 8-cylinder unit delivering 720 horsepower. This engine is coupled to an advanced automatic transmission system that ensures smooth power delivery, rapid gear changes, and responsive acceleration across varied terrain types. With a combat weight of approximately 28 tonnes, the Borsuk maintains a favorable power-to-weight ratio of 25.7 hp/ton, enabling it to perform quick maneuvers and fast repositioning on the battlefield. The vehicle reaches a maximum road speed of 65 km/h and has an operational range of approximately 550 km, allowing for extended independent operation without logistical resupply.

  The Borsuk utilizes a hydropneumatic suspension system, offering superior ride comfort, recoil dampening during firing, and adaptive terrain handling. This system also provides limited hull height adjustment, which is particularly useful for enhancing concealment in hull-down positions, reducing radar signature, or optimizing the vehicle’s waterline during amphibious operations. The suspension's dynamic response capabilities help to minimize crew fatigue and vehicle wear, making it highly suited for extended missions and rough-terrain operations.

  The vehicle is supported by a conventional tracked running gear comprising six dual road wheels on each side. Drive sprockets are located at the rear, while idler wheels are mounted at the front, and multiple return rollers maintain proper track alignment. The Borsuk features composite rubber tracks (CRT), which provide quieter operation, lower ground pressure, and improved traction over mixed surfaces, compared to traditional steel tracks. This configuration supports efficient movement through mud, snow, and urban environments while reducing maintenance burdens.

  Mobility performance is further enhanced by its trench-crossing and obstacle-clearing capabilities. The Borsuk can traverse trenches up to 2.6 meters wide and surmount vertical obstacles approximately 0.8 meters high. It can negotiate gradients of up to 60% and side slopes of approximately 30%, allowing it to operate confidently in hilly or uneven terrain.

  A standout feature of the Borsuk is its full amphibious capability. Unlike many armored vehicles that require preparation for water operations, the Borsuk can enter and navigate aquatic environments immediately. Equipped with twin rear-mounted water jets, the vehicle maintains a stable and maneuverable profile in water, achieving a swimming speed of 8 km/h. This capability is crucial for operations in Poland’s riverine and marshy landscapes, allowing for seamless transition between land and water without compromising mission readiness or combat effectiveness.

  Together, these mobility characteristics ensure that the Borsuk remains a highly versatile and strategically mobile IFV, capable of executing rapid deployment, supporting dynamic maneuver warfare, and operating across all terrains, including challenging amphibious and soft-soil environments.

• Combat Equipment

  he Borsuk’s combat systems are designed around network-centric warfare and automated threat response, making it a digital force multiplier in combined arms operations. Central to this capability is the ZSSW-30 fire control system (FCS) developed by WB Group. It provides full hunter-killer and killer-killer functionality, enabling independent target acquisition, tracking, and engagement by both the commander and gunner.

  The FCS supports firing in all turret orientations, even while on the move, with target stabilization in all three axes. Auto-tracking, automatic ballistic computation, and fire permission logic are integrated into the commander's GOD-1 Iris and gunner’s GOC-1 Nike sights. Both sights include day and thermal imaging, eye-safe laser rangefinders, and light-intensity sensors, delivering precise targeting data under all visibility and weather conditions.

  To supplement electronic vision systems, the Borsuk is equipped with a non-integrated optical backup sight located adjacent to the main sights for manual targeting in case of system failure.

  The SOD (System Obserwacji Dookrężnej) 360-degree situational awareness system includes multi-spectral cameras for full environmental monitoring. Outputs are routed to displays for both crew and dismounts. Future iterations are planned to incorporate augmented reality interfaces and AI-driven target classification, greatly increasing battlefield awareness and reaction speed.

  For active protection, the Borsuk features the Obra-3 soft-kill active protection system, comprising 12 laser warning receivers (four sets with three sensors each) covering 360° azimuth and –6° to +30° elevation. The system detects and differentiates laser-based threats—rangefinders, designators—and automatically responds by deploying GAk-81 phosphorus smoke grenades in the incoming laser path. Obra-3 can operate in manual, semi-automatic, or fully automatic modes, ensuring layered defense even during simultaneous multi-vector attacks.

  For driver visibility, three front periscopes are augmented by a dedicated trim vane-mounted camera which activates during amphibious operations when conventional periscopes are obstructed.

  Together, these systems make the Borsuk one of the most digitally advanced and situationally aware infantry fighting vehicles fielded within NATO, combining firepower, protection, mobility, and sensor fusion to dominate the modern battlespace.