MSPO 2024: Borsuk amphibious IFV to transform Poland’s Armed Forces by replacing Soviet-era BWP-1.

At the 32nd International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO 2024) held in Poland from September 3 to 6, 2024, Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW), a member of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ SA), presented the Borsuk, a new amphibious infantry fighting vehicle (IFV). The Borsuk, also known as the "Badger," is intended to replace the BWP-1 IFVs that have been in service with the Polish Armed Forces since 1973. The project was financed by the National Center for Research and Development and involved collaboration with multiple Polish defense firms and research institutions.
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A framework agreement for the delivery of 1,000 Borsuk vehicles was signed on February 28, 2023, with serial deliveries planned to start in 2024. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The Borsuk infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) is designed for the transport and protection of infantry soldiers and their crew against various battlefield threats, such as small arms fire, RPGs, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). It is capable of independently crossing wide water obstacles, differentiating it from other European IFVs that typically require external assistance to traverse bodies of water.

The vehicle’s chassis features a powerpack driving system, a high level of modular ballistic and mine protection, an auxiliary power unit, a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) filtration system, a firefighting and suppression system, an omnidirectional observation system referred to as "SOD," and a breakwater for water operations.

The Borsuk is armed with the ZSSW-30 remote-controlled turret system, which is designed to engage various types of targets, including light and heavy armored targets, as well as enemy infrastructure. The turret, also mounted on KTO Rosomak vehicles, includes a 30 mm automatic cannon with a dual-feed system, a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, eight smoke grenade launchers, and a dual launcher for SPIKE anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs).

The turret of the Borsuk IFV, also mounted on KTO Rosomak vehicles, includes a 30 mm automatic cannon with a dual-feed system, a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, eight smoke grenade launchers, and a dual launcher for SPIKE anti-tank guided missiles. (Picture source: Huta Stalowa Wola)

The ZSSW-30 also provides bi-axial stabilization for the main armament, independently stabilized observation devices for both the commander and the armament operator, and an additional observation device with a wide-angle periscope for emergency situations. The turret incorporates "Hunter-Killer" and "Killer-Killer" modes, an OBRA-3 SSP-1 Laser Radiation Detection system integrated with smoke grenade launchers, and the ability to fire in both automatic and emergency modes. This system is designed to be autonomous in both tactical and constructional terms, allowing adaptation to various carriers, including tracked vehicles.

The Borsuk’s dimensions are approximately 7.6 meters in length and 3.4 meters in width, and it weighs around 25 tons. The vehicle is powered by an MTU 8V199 TE20 engine with 720 horsepower, which enables it to reach speeds of up to 65 km/h on paved roads and 8 km/h in water. It can be equipped with either steel or elastomer tracks and is built to meet NATO Stanag 4569 protection standards: Level 3 on the sides and Level 4 at the front. The vehicle accommodates a crew of three—a commander, driver, and gunner—and can carry up to six additional infantry soldiers.

The development of the Borsuk began in 2012, following the Polish Ministry of National Defense's decision to replace the aging BWP-1 infantry fighting vehicle, the Polish designation for the Soviet-era BMP-1. (Picture source: 16 Pomorska Dywizja Zmechanizowana)

The Borsuk’s development began in 2012 with the Polish Ministry of National Defense’s decision to replace the aging BWP-1 vehicles. The Technical Modernization Plan for 2012-2022 called for the procurement of around 800 new IFVs. In 2013, the National Center for Research and Development launched a competition for the development of a new floating infantry fighting vehicle. The winning consortium, led by Huta Stalowa Wola, included other defense entities such as Rosomak SA, Wojskowe Zakłady Motoryzacyjne SA, Wojskowe Zakłady Elektroniczne SA, Wojskowe Zakłady Inżynieryjne SA, and several Polish research institutions.

The Borsuk prototype was first publicly shown in 2017 at the International Defense Industry Exhibition in Kielce. By 2018, a technology demonstrator had begun factory trials, and in 2020, the vehicle successfully completed military trials at the Drawsko Training Ground. These trials included a series of firing tests. A framework agreement for the delivery of 1,000 Borsuk vehicles was signed on February 28, 2023, with serial deliveries planned to start in 2024. The agreement also includes the delivery of 400 specialist vehicles, such as Żuk reconnaissance transporters, Oset command vehicles, Gotem medical evacuation vehicles, Gekon technical support vehicles, and Ares contamination reconnaissance transporters.

The RAK M120G can target enemy forces, including infantry and tanks, with a high rate of fire of up to 10-12 rounds per minute. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The Borsuk, with the ZSSW-30 turret system, is currently the only existing variant of the vehicle. However, the Borsuk’s chassis is intended to serve as a base for additional specialized variants, such as command, reconnaissance, armored recovery, and NBC reconnaissance. At the MSPO 2024 event, a variant of the Borsuk equipped with a 120 mm self-propelled mortar turret system named RAK M120G was also presented.

This mortar system is intended to provide indirect, semi-indirect, and direct fire support for battalion and company-level operations. The RAK M120G can target enemy forces, including infantry and tanks, and engage high-value targets such as command posts, reconnaissance units, electronic warfare assets, and fortified positions. It has a longer barrel that allows an increased rate of fire, reaching up to 10-12 rounds per minute. This variant retains the amphibious capabilities of the Borsuk platform, ensuring its operational flexibility in diverse terrains.

The Borsuk is currently in use by the Polish Armed Forces, with plans to deploy several hundred units across various infantry brigades. There are ongoing discussions with other countries, particularly in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, regarding potential acquisitions of the Borsuk. In March 2024, South Korea also reportedly expressed interest in purchasing the vehicle, though no official announcement has been made.

The vehicle is powered by an MTU 8V199 TE20 engine with 720 horsepower, which enables it to reach speeds of up to 65 km/h on paved roads and 8 km/h in water. (Picture source: Huta Stalowa Wola)