MSPO 2023: Poland showcases New Generation Borsuk IFV equipped with Advanced Weaponry.

The Polish Armament Group (PGZ) is showcasing its new generation of tracked armored Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs), the Borsuk, at the MSPO 2023 International Defense Exhibition. Developed entirely in Poland, the Borsuk is fitted with the ZSSW 30mm unmanned weapon station and armed with a 30 mm Bushmaster Mk 44 automatic cannon. The vehicle is a part of Poland's modernization efforts to replace its existing fleet of BWP-1s, a locally produced version of the Soviet-made BMP-1.
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 Borsuk project was initiated by the Polish defense industry in response to a request from the Polish army for a replacement for the BWP-1. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The Borsuk project was initiated by the Polish defense industry in response to a request from the Polish army for a replacement for the BMP-1. The project is led by Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW), a subsidiary of the Polish Armaments Group (Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa, PGZ).

The Borsuk is divided into three main sections: the driver's position at the front left side of the hull, a turret mounted in the middle of the top hull, and a troop compartment at the rear. The vehicle is fully amphibious, propelled in water by rear-mounted water jets. It has a crew of three—driver, commander, and gunner—and can carry up to eight additional military personnel.

The vehicle's modular armor can be configured according to mission requirements. In its standard configuration, the hull and turret offer protection against small arms fire, artillery shell splinters, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The Borsuk is fitted with the unmanned weapon station ZSSW-30, developed by a consortium led by HSW. The turret features a 30 mm Bushmaster Mk 44/S gun capable of firing ABM ammunition and can be converted to a 40 mm caliber. It is also equipped with a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun and a dual Spike ATGM launcher. Advanced fire control systems with auto-tracking and two optronic systems for the gunner and commander are also included.

The Borsuk is powered by an MTU 8V199 TE20 diesel engine that develops 8720 hp, locally developed by Wojskowe Zakłady Motoryzacyjne. The vehicle's suspension consists of six road wheels on each side, 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. The Borsuk can reach a maximum road speed of 70 km/h and has a maximum cruising range of 600 km.

Field and firing tests were conducted in September 2020, and HSW plans to deliver the first serial production of the vehicle in 2023/2024.