Exclusive: Poland’s HSW to Produce 1,400 Borsuk Tracked Combat Vehicles for Polish Army.

According to information disclosed on May 7, 2025, by Wojciech Kędziera, CEO of the Polish defense company Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW), and published by StrefaObrony, a defense news portal launched by Polska Press Grupa, Poland has taken a decisive step forward in modernizing its land forces with the signing of a major framework agreement between HSW and the Polish Ministry of Defense. The agreement calls for the production of 1,400 tracked armored vehicles from the Borsuk family, including 1,014 Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs). The remaining units will be developed in specialized versions to fulfill various operational roles.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

The Polish Armed Forces' 15th Mechanized Infantry Brigade showcases the new Borsuk (Badger) Infantry Fighting Vehicle during a live-fire demonstration, marking its integration into NATO's enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Poland. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)

This large-scale procurement of Borsuk tracked armored vehicles follows an earlier contract signed in March 2025, valued at PLN 6.5 billion (approximately €1.5 billion), covering the initial delivery of 111 Borsuk IFVs to the Polish Armed Forces. That contract laid the groundwork for the broader agreement now being implemented, signaling a long-term strategic commitment to modernizing the Army’s armored vehicle fleet with domestically produced equipment.

At the center of this modernization initiative is the Borsuk IFV, which is intended to replace the obsolete BWP-1—a Polish-licensed version of the Soviet BMP-1. Introduced in the 1970s, the BWP-1 is now considered inadequate for modern battlefield requirements due to outdated armor, limited firepower, and lack of advanced defensive systems. The Borsuk marks a generational leap, offering NATO-standard capabilities tailored to the needs of Poland’s mechanized infantry units.

The Borsuk IFV is a modern, amphibious tracked vehicle developed by HSW in partnership with the Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ). It is equipped with the ZSSW-30 remote-controlled turret, armed with a 30mm Bushmaster II automatic cannon and Spike-LR anti-tank guided missiles. Its modular armor provides scalable protection against ballistic and explosive threats, while its amphibious design enables unassisted water crossings—an essential capability given Poland’s river-dense terrain.

Thanks to its modular design, the Borsuk chassis can support multiple specialized variants, including command and control vehicles, medical evacuation platforms, reconnaissance units, and combat engineering systems. This versatility ensures broad operational applicability and long-term value for the Polish military.

Beyond its battlefield capabilities, the Borsuk program underscores the maturity of Poland’s domestic defense industry. HSW has made significant investments in advanced manufacturing technologies, expanded its R&D capabilities, and enhanced its collaboration with national and NATO defense partners. This industrial progress reinforces Poland’s strategic objective to achieve greater self-reliance in defense production while positioning itself as a competitive player in the European defense market.

The framework agreement coincides with Poland’s record defense budget for 2025, amounting to PLN 186.6 billion (about €43 billion)—equivalent to 4.7% of the country’s GDP, the highest defense spending ratio among NATO allies. The investment in the Borsuk vehicle family thus serves not only as a force multiplier for the Polish Armed Forces but also as a catalyst for technological and industrial growth within the national defense sector.

With this agreement now in place, the Borsuk IFV is set to become a pillar of Poland’s future armored forces—combining state-of-the-art design, battlefield effectiveness, and industrial sovereignty.