According to information published by the Polish Ministry Of Defense on November 14, 2022, as part of a modernization of its armed forces, Poland has launched a program to replace its old BWP-1 tracked armored IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle). One of the contenders is the Borsuk, a Polish-made tracked IFV that carried out field tests on November 14, 2022.
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Polish-made Borsuk tracked armored IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle. (Picture source PGZ)
Citing information from Mariusz Błaszczak, Polish Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense, the Borsuk IFV has been tested by the by the 15th Mechanized Brigade, as the successor of the Soviet-made BWP-1 IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicle), currently in service with the Polish army.
During his stay at the training ground in Orzysz, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that as part of the equipment's modernization process, "Borsuk" are to be the primary equipment of the 15th Mechanized Brigade, next to the order from South Korean K2 main battle tanks.
The Borsuk is the latest generation of Polish-made tracked armored IFV manufactured by a consortium led by Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW), a subsidiary of Polish Armaments Group (Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa, PGZ) also including Ośrodek Badawczo-Rozwojowy Urządzeń Mechanicznych OBRUM Sp. z o.o., Wojskowe Zakłady Motoryzacyjne S.A., ROSOMAK S.A., Wojskowe Zakłady Elektroniczne S.A., Akademia Sztuki Wojennej, Wojskowa Akademia Techniczna, Wojskowy Instytut Techniki Pancernej i Samochodowej and Politechnika Warszaws.
The development of the Borsuk by the Polish company HSW started in 2014 and the first version of the Borsuk IFV was unveiled in September 2017 during MSPO, International Defense Exhibition in Poland.
The Borsuk is built on a universal modular tracked platform. The IFV version of the Borsuk is equipped with the ZSSW-30 remotely controlled turret system. The turret is also mounted on the latest Rosomak, a Polish-made 8x8 armored vehicle.
The Borsuk is based on a tracked chassis fully developed and manufactured in Poland. The suspension of the Borsuk consists on either side of six road wheels 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 basic armor of the Borsuk provides protection against the firing of small, artillery shell splinters and mine blasts of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The vehicle can be fitted with additional armor according to mission requirements and threats. It has a crew including a driver, commander and gunner, and the rear part of the hull is able to accomodate up to 8 infantrymen.
