Polish New Borsuk Infantry Fighting Vehicle Gains Firepower with U.S. Mk44 30mm Chain Gun.

According to information published by the X account of U.S. Company Northrop Grumman on September 1, 2025, the U.S. defense manufacturer has confirmed delivery of its Mk44 30mm Stretch Bushmaster® Chain Gun® to Polish defense company Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW) for integration into the Borsuk Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV). This development solidifies a key phase in Poland’s most ambitious armored modernization program in decades and elevates the firepower and mission flexibility of the Borsuk to NATO’s most advanced standards.
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The Borsuk is Poland’s new-generation amphibious infantry fighting vehicle designed to replace Soviet-era platforms, offering modular armor, advanced firepower, and full NATO interoperability for modern battlefield operations. (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

The Borsuk IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle), meaning “Badger” in Polish, is a fully amphibious tracked combat vehicle developed under the New Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (NBPWP) program. Spearheaded by HSW in cooperation with the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), the platform was designed from inception to meet the operational needs of the Polish Army’s mechanized brigades in both continental and riverine environments. The vehicle can accommodate three crew members and up to eight dismounted troops, with full amphibious capabilities allowing waterborne operation without prior preparation.

On March 27, 2025, the Polish Ministry of Defense signed a contract for the first batch of 111 Borsuk IFVs, valued at approximately 6.57 billion Polish złoty. This was followed in May by a historic framework agreement to procure a total of 1,400 tracked armored vehicles based on the Borsuk chassis, including over 1,000 IFVs and multiple specialist variants such as command, reconnaissance, medical evacuation, recovery, and NBC reconnaissance vehicles. Deliveries under the framework are expected to continue through the end of the decade, positioning Borsuk as the backbone of Poland’s future mechanized force structure.

Central to the Borsuk’s combat effectiveness is its remote-controlled ZSSW-30 turret, which integrates the Mk44S Bushmaster II chain gun produced by Northrop Grumman. The Mk44 Stretch variant delivered for the Borsuk offers an extended receiver allowing compatibility with both standard 30×173mm ammunition and future growth to 40mm Super Forty rounds. This modularity is vital for adapting to evolving battlefield threats, especially in anti-personnel and anti-drone engagements.

The Mk44 Stretch fires at a rate of approximately 200 rounds per minute and supports programmable airburst munitions such as the Mk310, allowing the operator to detonate rounds at precise distances for engaging targets behind cover or in elevated positions. It features a dual-feed system, external power drive, and an elevation range of -10° to +60°, enabling full-spectrum engagement of both ground and aerial threats. With an effective firing range of up to 3,000 meters and a maximum range exceeding 4,000 meters, the Mk44 delivers precise firepower across varied combat scenarios. Its lethality extends to light and medium armored vehicles, fortified positions, infantry in defilade, and low-flying UAVs. Armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds are capable of penetrating over 55 mm of RHA at 1,000 meters, allowing the Borsuk to neutralize enemy IFVs and lightly protected assets with ease. The programmable airburst capability further allows effective neutralization of enemy troops concealed in urban environments or behind natural obstacles.

Designed with simplicity and battlefield resilience in mind, the externally powered chain gun maintains a low maintenance profile, with a proven mean rounds between failure exceeding 22,000. Its track record across multiple NATO platforms highlights its operational reliability in high-intensity and prolonged engagements.

In addition to the main armament, the ZSSW-30 turret includes a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and dual launchers for Rafael’s Spike-LR anti-tank guided missiles, offering long-range precision strike capability against armored threats. Advanced optronics with independent thermal sights for both commander and gunner, laser rangefinders, and auto-tracking functionality further enhance target acquisition and engagement in day and night conditions.

With a combat weight of approximately 28 tons, the Borsuk is powered by an MTU 8V199 TE20 diesel engine delivering up to 870 horsepower. The vehicle achieves road speeds of 65 to 70 km/h and water speeds of up to 8 km/h, enabled by rear-mounted water jets. Its modular armor is scalable to mission-specific threat levels, and internal systems are designed with NATO C4ISR integration in mind, ensuring interoperability across multinational operations.

The decision to arm the Polish-made Borsuk tracked IFV with the U.S.-made Mk44 Bushmaster not only brings unmatched firepower and proven reliability to Poland’s new IFV fleet but also ensures long-term access to a global supply chain, extensive ammunition options, and compatibility with the most advanced NATO-standard systems. This strategic integration enhances Poland’s deterrence posture, aligns with Western interoperability goals, and strengthens the industrial-defense partnership between Polish and American manufacturers. Ultimately, the Mk44-equipped Borsuk IFV sets a new benchmark for 21st-century tracked combat vehicles within NATO.