Poland Begins Negotiations for 159 Borsuk Infantry Fighting Vehicles.

Unofficial sources have indicated to Defence24 that negotiations for the executive contract concerning the purchase of the first 159 Borsuk (Badger in English) infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) will begin in early August 2024. This procurement will cover the needs of two mechanized infantry battalions, each with 58 vehicles, plus additional vehicles for training purposes.
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The Borsuk is equipped with the ZSSW 30mm unmanned weapon station armed with a 30 mm Bushmaster Mk 44 automatic cannon (Picture source: Polish MoD)

The framework agreement for the Borsuk IFVs was signed between the Armament Agency and the consortium of the Polish Armaments Group and Huta Stalowa Wola at the end of February 2023. This agreement covers over a thousand Borsuk IFVs and approximately 400 specialized vehicles of various classes based on its chassis. These include Żuk tracked reconnaissance vehicles, Oset tracked command vehicles, the Gotem MEDEVAC platform, Gekon ARVs, and the Ares CRBN reconnaissance platform.

The Borsuk IFV is a modern tracked vehicle designed for mechanized infantry. Its crew consists of a commander, a gunner, and a driver. The vehicle is amphibious, which sets it apart from many counterparts. It offers protection to the crew and troops inside against small arms fire, anti-tank grenade launchers, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs)/mines. The vehicle can reach a top speed of 65 kph on roads and up to 8 kph in water, and it weighs 28 tonnes in its base variant.

The Borsuk design is led by HSW S.A. and involves a consortium of Polish companies, including Ośrodek Badawczo-Rozwojowy Devices Mechanicznych OBRUM Sp.z o.o., Wojskowe Zakłady Motoryzacyjne S.A., ROSOMAK S.A., Military Electronic Works S.A., War Studies University, Military University of Technology, the Military Institute of Armoured and Automotive Technology, and Warsaw University of Technology. The Borsuk represents the next generation of tracked armored IFVs for the Polish army.

The Polish Armament Group (PGZ) has presented the Borsuk, equipped with the ZSSW 30mm unmanned weapon station armed with a 30 mm Bushmaster Mk 44 automatic cannon. This vehicle is intended to replace the BWP-1, a Polish version of the Soviet-made BMP-1 produced under license in Poland. The Borsuk project began in 2014, and the first version was unveiled in September 2017. Prototypes of the Borsuk began their first fire, endurance, and technical tests in September 2020, with the aim of delivering the first serial production vehicles by 2023/2024.

The Borsuk features a modular armor design that can be configured according to mission requirements. In its standard configuration, the hull and turret provide protection against small arms fire, artillery shell splinters, and IED blasts. The IFV version of the Borsuk is equipped with the ZSSW-30 unmanned weapon station developed by a consortium led by HSW, with support from WB Electronics. The turret includes a 30 mm Bushmaster Mk 44/S gun, a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun, and a dual Spike ATGM launcher. It also features an advanced fire control system with an auto tracker and two optronic systems for the gunner and the commander.

The Borsuk is powered by an MTU 8V199 TE20 diesel engine developing 8720 hp, developed by Wojskowe Zakłady Motoryzacyjne. The vehicle's suspension includes six road wheels on either side, with a drive sprocket at the front and an idler at the rear. It uses a composite rubber track system supplied by Canadian company Soucy Defense. The Borsuk can achieve a maximum road speed of 70 kph and has a cruising range of 600 km.