Poland sharpens eastern flank as 14 Rosomak infantry fighting vehicles with ZSSW-30 turrets.

Poland has delivered fourteen additional Rosomak armored vehicles equipped with the ZSSW-30 remotely operated turret to the 21st Podhale Rifles Brigade, expanding the unit’s inventory of the new configuration. The move tightens NATO’s defensive grid on the alliance’s eastern flank by pairing high mobility with long-range anti-armor firepower in Poland’s southeastern border region.

Polish deputy prime minister and defense minister Władysław Kosiniak Kamysz has announced the delivery of fourteen new Rosomak wheeled infantry fighting vehicles fitted with the ZSSW-30 remote turret to the 21st Podhale Rifles Brigade, a key mountain infantry formation in southeastern Poland. The batch, flagged publicly on the X platform and echoed by parliamentary defense figures, is part of a multi-year framework that will see hundreds of Rosomaks converted or produced with the new combat system through 2027. Under that agreement, Poland plans to field 341 ZSSW-30 turrets, starting with an initial 70 systems worth about 1.7 billion zlotys and followed by a second contract for 58 vehicles signed in 2024 at roughly 2.6 billion zlotys.
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Combining the Rosomak with the ZSSW-30 turret improves mechanized units’ fire support and mobility by enabling the vehicle, through its panoramic optics, stabilization system, and long-range missiles, to neutralize armored targets before they are visually detected by the adversary. (Picture source: Polish MoD)

The Kołowy Transporter Opancerzony (KTO) Rosomak has been one of the main platforms of the Polish Land Forces since 2004. Based on the Finnish Patria AMV, it has been adapted and produced by Rosomak S.A. to meet national operational requirements. The vehicle, with an 8x8 chassis, is powered by a Scania DI 12 diesel engine rated between 480 and 543 horsepower, giving a road speed of around 100 km/h and a range of about 800 km. Its armored hull, compliant with NATO standards, protects the crew against direct fire and mines, while modular kits allow the protection level to be adjusted according to the theater of operations. The Rosomak remains amphibious in its baseline configuration, propelled in water by two rear hydrojets, and can be transported by rail, sea, or air. The crew consists of a driver, a commander, and a gunner, with eight infantry soldiers carried in the troop compartment.

The ZSSW-30 (Zdalnie Sterowany System Wieżowy 30) remotely operated turret results from a joint program between Huta Stalowa Wola S.A. and WB Electronics S.A., conducted under a contract with the Armament Inspectorate. Fully developed in Poland, this new generation turret differs from the Italian-origin Hitfist-30P through the integration of two Spike LR/LR2 anti-tank guided missiles mounted on its right side. These missiles, supplied by Mesko, allow engagement of armored targets at ranges beyond 4 km. The main armament consists of a 30 mm Mk44S Bushmaster II automatic cannon and a 7.62 mm UKM-2000C coaxial machine gun. The electrically stabilized fire control system incorporates an autotracker, infrared sensors, and a laser rangefinder, enabling accurate fire on the move and both by day and at night.

The ZSSW-30 marks an evolution in terms of protection and operational effectiveness. Fully operated from inside the vehicle, it increases crew safety and optimizes the space available for dismounted troops and mission equipment. The digital fire control workstation developed by WB Group is based on modular software and data networks that can be adapted to developments on the battlefield. The company is continuing to upgrade the system, including work on enhanced assistance functions for target detection and identification.

In 2022, Poland launched a framework contract for the production of 341 ZSSW-30 turrets, worth 3.4 billion zlotys, to be delivered by 2027. An initial order for 70 units, valued at 1.7 billion, was signed the same year. Under this arrangement, the 21st Podhale Rifles Brigade received, from December 2023 onwards, the first five Rosomak vehicles equipped with the new system, followed by additional vehicles in 2024 and then this new batch in 2025. A second tranche of 58 vehicles, signed in July 2024 for approximately 2.6 billion zlotys, provides for deliveries between 2026 and 2027.

In December 2024, a third order covered 80 vehicles for the extended amphibious version, Rosomak Long, with deliveries scheduled from 2027. According to Adam Bartosiewicz, vice-president of WB Group, current production stands at five turrets per month, with the capacity to increase this rate threefold if required. He notes that WB Group is currently the only European manufacturer producing this volume of advanced remotely operated turrets.

The combination of the Rosomak and the ZSSW-30 turret enhances the fire support and mobility capabilities of mechanized units. With its panoramic optics, stabilization system, and long-range missiles, the vehicle can neutralize armored targets before they are visually detected by the adversary. Its high mobility and modularity facilitate combined arms manoeuvres, particularly in the rugged terrain of south-eastern Poland. The integration of common digital systems between armored vehicles, command posts, and tactical drones improves the responsiveness of fires and reduces the time between target detection and engagement.

This delivery reflects Warsaw’s intention to consolidate its technological autonomy while increasing the responsiveness of its land forces. Rosomak vehicles fitted with ZSSW-30 join a broader set of investments that includes K2 tanks, Krab self-propelled howitzers, and Narew air defence systems. This industrial and operational coherence strengthens Poland’s posture on NATO’s eastern flank and places the country among the drivers of European land capability modernization. By combining firepower, digitalization, and domestic production, Warsaw contributes to a perception of strategic resilience in a regional environment marked by security uncertainty and technological competition.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group

Erwan Halna du Fretay is a graduate of a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience in the study of conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.