The first copies of the fresh Borsuk Infantry car will be sent to the Polish Army later this year. This is the beginning of the process, which is intended to lead to the replacement of over 900 BWP-1 – a structure that remembers the 1970s – modern, full Polish vehicles. Thanks to advanced mine and modular resistance, Borsuk's construction is to become the basis of mechanized branches for the following decades.
The Borsuk program began in 2014 and in subsequent years developed fresh prototypes subject to plant and military testing. BWP Borsuk is simply a vehicle based on a universal modular caterpillar platform (UMPG), equipped with a remotely controlled tower system, and its crew consists of 3 soldiers: commander, arms operator and driver. It is designed to transport six soldiers in the combat area, while ensuring an adequate level of protection, as well as to carry out tasks related to the support of infantry divisions utilizing on-board weapons.
– The task has now entered a fresh phase. We have a phase in mass production. 10 years was hard work on the project. First 1 prototype was created, then an experimental vehicle, then 4 more prototypes for training and testing, and then 2 more with an alternate propulsion unit. “In an interview with Newseria agency Agnieszka Czuba-Pytlos, the manager of the CBWP Ratel task at Huta Stalowa Wola. – Badger is to be the successor to BWP-1. We want this to happen as shortly as possible, of course it is besides a substance of our contracting authority, and there will surely be discussions on the next contracts.
BWP-1, designed in the context of the Cold War, has thin armor protecting only against gunfire and does not supply antimine resistance. Equipped with a 73 mm caliber cannon, wagons are incapable to effectively fight modern tanks or drones, and their reflection and communication systems are obsolete. The erstwhile attempts to upgrade this equipment, specified as the BWP-1M Puma variant, were only a bridge solution. Currently, the Polish army has about 900 operating BWP-1s, so their exchange has become 1 of the key priorities of method modernization.
On 27 March this year in Warsaw, the first executive contract was signed for the transportation of 111 fighting Borsuk infantry vehicles worth PLN 6.57 billion. This is part of the framework agreement of 2023, which provides for the supply of a full household of specialized caterpillar vehicles based on a universal modular platform. In total, about 1.4 1000 vehicles are to be collected, including specialised wagons: track-laying reconnaissance transporters Żuk, Oset command wagons, Gotem medical evacuation vehicles, Gekon method safety wagons or Ares contamination detection transporters.
– The plan of a fresh combat vehicle is co-financed by the NCBR. We operate in a consortium of 10 entities and HSW is its leader – emphasises Agnieszka Czuba-Pytlos.
The transportation is scheduled for 2025-2029. The contract besides includes training and logistics packages. Currently, the Badgers are undergoing commission-based donation-receiver studies.
– They've already gone through the tests, we're done shooting, then there'll be swimming tests. In September we want to start training soldiers, which will end with the beginning of November and in December there will be a conviction of the Badgers to the contractor – announced by the HSW representative. – This year we're taking 15 cars, next year's three, and the next year's 33 and 55. We're hoping that the next contracts will begin soon.
Badgers is the first full Polish construction with specified a advanced degree of complexity. The vehicle weighs about 28 t, it develops speeds up to 65 km/h on land and 8 km/h in water. It can carry six landing troops and a crew of three. It was equipped with an unmanned ZSSW-30 turret with a 30 mm cannon and anti-tank Spike-LR missiles, which provides the ability to combat both armoured targets and drones or low-flying helicopters.
– We can say with all awareness that it is an innovative product. Badgers are designed for swimming, have a advanced maneuverability, maneuverability and advanced level of ballistic and mine protection – emphasises Agnieszka Czuba-Pytlos.
The modern character of Badsuk emphasizes integration with digital command and communication systems and a hydropneumatic suspension that provides mobility comparable to Western structures. The modular plan allows to usage the same platform as a base for command vehicles, medical, method or exploratory. MON assumes that more than 350 versions will be created, making it easier to unify the fleet and service equipment.
At the same time, in Poland, a program of dense combat infantry car (CBWP), known as Ratel, is besides being developed. According to the first assumptions, the vehicle is to have a mass of more than 40 t, a stronger weaponry and a level of crew protection comparable to tanks. The model of this vehicle was shown by the maker during MSPO 2025 in Kielce.
– Next year we plan its assembly and integration – announced the manager of the CBWP Ratel task in HSW. – We want to meet the expectations of the military, so we decided to decision on with this production, for now it is simply a product financed by our HSW funds.
For: newseria.pl
