The first units of the new Borsuk infantry fighting vehicle will reach the Polish Armed Forces later this year. This marks the beginning of a process aimed at replacing more than 900 BWP-1s – designs dating back to the 1970s – with modern, fully Polish vehicles. Thanks to high mine resistance and modular construction, the Borsuk is expected to become the backbone of Poland’s mechanized units for decades to come.
The Borsuk program began in 2014 and has since developed through successive prototypes subjected to factory and military trials. The Borsuk IFV is based on a universal modular tracked platform (UMPG), equipped with a remotely operated turret system, and crewed by three soldiers: a commander, a weapons operator, and a driver. It is designed to transport six soldiers into the combat zone while providing a high level of protection, as well as to support infantry units using onboard weapons.
“The project has now entered a new phase. We are at the stage of serial production. It took ten years of hard work. First, there was one prototype, then an experimental vehicle, followed by four more prototypes for training and testing, and finally two versions with an alternative power unit,” explained Agnieszka Czuba-Pytlos, project manager for the CBWP Ratel at Huta Stalowa Wola, in an interview with Newseria. “Borsuk is to be the successor of the BWP-1. We want this to happen as soon as possible, though of course it depends on our client and further contracts.”
The BWP-1, designed during the Cold War, has thin armor that only protects against small arms fire and offers no mine resistance. Its 73 mm gun is unable to effectively engage modern tanks or drones, and its observation and communication systems are obsolete. Past modernization attempts, such as the BWP-1M Puma, were only stopgap solutions. Currently, the Polish Army operates about 900 BWP-1s, making their replacement a top priority in military modernization.
On March 27 this year in Warsaw, the first execution contract was signed for the delivery of 111 Borsuk IFVs worth 6.57 billion PLN. This is part of the 2023 framework agreement that foresees deliveries of an entire family of specialized tracked vehicles based on the universal modular platform. A total of about 1,400 vehicles are planned, including specialized variants: Żuk reconnaissance carriers, Oset command vehicles, Gotem medical evacuation vehicles, Gekon technical support vehicles, and Ares chemical reconnaissance carriers.
“The new amphibious infantry fighting vehicle project is co-financed by the National Centre for Research and Development. We are working in a consortium of 10 entities, with HSW as the leader,” emphasizes Czuba-Pytlos.
Deliveries are scheduled for 2025–2029. The contract also includes training and logistics packages. The Borsuks are currently undergoing final acceptance tests.
“They have already passed mileage tests, we are finishing firing trials, and swimming tests are next. In September we want to begin soldier training, which will conclude in early November, with the official handover of the Borsuks in December,” says the HSW representative. “This year we will deliver 15 vehicles, next year three, followed by 33 and 55 in subsequent years. We expect talks on further contracts to start soon.”
The Borsuk is the first fully Polish design of such complexity. The vehicle weighs about 28 tons, reaches speeds of up to 65 km/h on land and 8 km/h in water, and can carry six infantry troops plus its three-person crew. It is armed with the ZSSW-30 unmanned turret featuring a 30 mm cannon and Spike-LR anti-tank missiles, giving it the ability to destroy armored targets, drones, and low-flying helicopters.
“We can say with full confidence that this is an innovative product. The Borsuk is amphibious, highly maneuverable and agile, and offers a high level of ballistic and mine protection,” stresses Czuba-Pytlos.
The vehicle’s modern character is highlighted by its integration with digital command and communication systems, as well as hydropneumatic suspension, which provides mobility comparable to Western designs. The modular design allows the same platform to be adapted for command, medical, technical, or reconnaissance vehicles. The Ministry of National Defence plans to acquire more than 350 such variants, which will simplify fleet unification and maintenance.
In parallel, Poland is also developing a heavy infantry fighting vehicle program (CBWP), known as the Ratel. According to preliminary assumptions, the vehicle will weigh over 40 tons, carry heavier armament, and provide crew protection on a par with tanks. A mock-up of the Ratel was presented by the manufacturer during MSPO 2025 in Kielce.
“Next year we plan to begin its assembly and integration,” says Czuba-Pytlos, project manager for CBWP Ratel at HSW. “We want to meet the army’s expectations, which is why we decided to launch this production. For now, it is funded from HSW’s own resources.”
