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Poland Replaces Soviet Era Armor with Borsuk IFVs in Strategic Investment to Enhance Battlefield Mobility.
On March 27, 2025, the Republic of Poland announced the signing of the first executive contract for the delivery of 111 Borsuk infantry fighting vehicles. This agreement, concluded between the Polish Armament Agency and an industrial consortium comprising Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa S.A. (PGZ) and Huta Stalowa Wola S.A. (HSW), represents an investment of approximately €1.53 billion, or around 6.57 billion Polish zlotys. Deliveries are scheduled between 2025 and 2029. In addition to the delivery of the vehicles, the contract includes a comprehensive support package consisting of logistics and training components, the technical documentation required for serial production, and a complete acceptance testing program. These elements are intended to ensure the vehicles' effective integration into mechanized units and to support their long-term operational readiness.
The Borsuk is intended to integrate with other recently acquired platforms, including the South Korean K2 Black Panther main battle tanks, the American M1A1 and M1A2 Abrams, and the upgraded German Leopard 2PL (Picture source: Polish MoD)
This contract marks the implementation of a development program initiated in 2014 to introduce an infantry fighting vehicle fully designed and manufactured in Poland. The Borsuk has been developed on a universal modular tracked platform (UMPG), offering operational flexibility and the ability to adapt to evolving mission requirements. It was designed to replace the legacy BWP-1 vehicles, a Polish variant of the Soviet BMP-1, which no longer meet current standards in terms of protection and firepower. The Borsuk is intended to meet the operational needs of modern mechanized forces by combining mobility, protection, firepower, and interoperability.
The vehicle is fitted with the remotely controlled ZSSW-30 turret, developed domestically, which constitutes a key component of its architecture. The turret features a 30 mm Bushmaster Mk44S automatic cannon capable of firing in both automatic and semi-automatic modes, with five types of ammunition including programmable rounds for engaging concealed or moving targets. It also includes a coaxial 7.62 mm UKM-2000C machine gun and a dual launcher for Spike-LR anti-tank guided missiles. This weapon system provides multidirectional engagement capability against enemy infantry, armored vehicles, low-flying aerial targets, and fortified positions under varied environmental and operational conditions. A stabilized targeting system allows accurate engagement both day and night and in all weather conditions.
The Borsuk’s chassis has been designed to maximize tactical mobility. Its base armor, made of steel, is reinforced with composite or ceramic plates, providing ballistic protection rated to STANAG 4569 Level 4 at the front and Level 3 on the sides—effective against 14.5 mm rounds and artillery fragments. The vehicle is powered by an MTU 8V199 TE20 diesel engine delivering 720 horsepower, coupled with a Perkins X300 automatic transmission. It can reach a top speed of 65 km/h on roads and is fully amphibious, capable of swimming at 8 km/h without preparation, using integrated waterjets and a sealed hull. A hydropneumatic suspension enhances road handling and facilitates adaptation to varied terrain conditions, including muddy, rugged, or urban environments.
The Borsuk is operated by a crew of three—driver, gunner, and commander—and can carry an additional six equipped soldiers. The interior has been designed to allow rapid dismounting in combat situations and is configured to accommodate modern communication systems, surveillance sensors, and integrated battlefield management systems, enabling coordination with other ground and aerial platforms.
The launch of serial production for the first 111 vehicles represents a pivotal moment in the renewal of Poland’s mechanized capabilities. The Borsuk is intended to integrate with other recently acquired platforms, including the South Korean K2 Black Panther main battle tanks, the American M1A1 and M1A2 Abrams, and the upgraded German Leopard 2PL. It is also designed to complement the existing Rosomak and Rosomak-L wheeled infantry fighting vehicles. This integration is aimed at building a cohesive, modernized mechanized force capable of responding to the requirements of high-intensity combat.
The introduction of the Borsuk reflects a strategic effort to equip the Polish Army with modern, domestically developed systems while reinforcing industrial autonomy in the defense sector. The program, led by PGZ and its subsidiaries, supports the national defense industrial and technological base and brings economic benefits to the regions involved. It also demonstrates the ability of Poland’s defense industry to develop complex and competitive systems that may attract interest from international partners in Europe and Latin America.
The March 27, 2025, contract signifies Poland’s intent to modernize its mechanized infantry forces with equipment suited to contemporary security challenges. The Borsuk, with its modular design, amphibious capabilities, integrated weapon systems, and reinforced armor, represents a technological transition for Poland’s land forces and strengthens the country's broader defense industrial ambitions.