Analysis: Polish New Borsuk IFV challenges KF41 - M2A4 Bradley and AS21 in tracked armored vehicle race.

Poland’s fielding of the Borsuk IFV has triggered direct comparisons with three of the most advanced tracked infantry fighting vehicles in service or production, the German KF41 Lynx, the U.S. Bradley M2A4, and South Korea’s AS21 Redback. The matchup highlights how each nation’s doctrine and threat environment drive different choices in firepower, protection, and mobility.

With Borsuk tracked IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) now officially in Polish Army service, defense planners and industry analysts are turning attention to how the vehicle measures up against the KF41 Lynx, the latest M2A4 Bradley configuration, and the AS21 Redback. Officials in Warsaw say the comparison is essential because Poland is restructuring its mechanized brigades around modern tracked platforms and wants to understand how its domestic solution aligns with or diverges from leading global designs. While data varies across manufacturers, analysts note clear contrasts in turret systems, mobility approaches, and survivability packages that reflect very different national priorities.
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Poland’s Borsuk IFV joins the global battlefield alongside Germany’s KF41 Lynx, the U.S. M2A4 Bradley, and South Korea’s AS21 Redback, setting a new standard in mobility, firepower, and strategic versatility in NATO's next-generation armored formations.

In terms of baseline performance, the Borsuk weighs approximately 28 tons in combat configuration, significantly lighter than its competitors. The KF41 tips the scales at around 44 to 50 tons, depending on armor packages, while the AS21 Redback sits in the 42 to 45 ton class. The U.S. M2A4 Bradley, an upgraded Cold War-era design, remains closer to 36 tons. This difference is not incidental. The Borsuk is designed with full amphibious capability, something its heavier rivals have had to forgo in favor of greater protection and firepower. That feature is critical for the Polish theater, where river crossings and rapid maneuver across water obstacles are tactical imperatives. Neither the Lynx nor Redback offers amphibious mobility, and the Bradley lost its swim capability as protection requirements grew over successive upgrades.

Borsuk’s powertrain combines an MTU 8V199 TE20 engine rated at 720 hp with an advanced hydro-pneumatic suspension system, delivering a high power-to-weight ratio of over 25 hp/ton. The M2A4 Bradley uses a 600 hp Cummins engine, delivering around 16.6 hp/ton. The KF41’s 1,140 hp engine gives it strong mobility despite its bulk, but its logistical footprint is greater. The Redback, developed by Hanwha in collaboration with the Australian Army, uses an MTU 8V199 like Borsuk, but pushes it harder across a heavier platform.

Armament is one of the more decisive comparative factors. The Borsuk mounts the ZSSW-30 remotely operated turret featuring a 30mm Bushmaster II chain gun, Spike-LR ATGMs, and a 7.62mm coaxial MG. This places it on par with the Bradley M2A4, which retains the 25mm M242 Bushmaster and TOW missile system, though the U.S. turret is not remotely operated. The AS21 Redback features a more potent 40mm cannon and Spike-LR2 missiles, while the KF41 can mount either a 30mm or 35mm cannon in the Lance 2.0 turret, with Spike or other ATGMs depending on user requirements. In terms of firepower, Redback and KF41 edge ahead in raw kinetic output, but Borsuk offers a capable NATO-standard solution with digital fire control and full night-fighting capability.

Protection levels follow a similar tiering. The Borsuk’s modular armor is scalable up to STANAG 4569 Level 4, offering protection against 14.5mm AP rounds and artillery fragments. APS integration with Polish systems is planned but is still under evaluation. Both the KF41 and Redback are designed with active protection in mind from inception. The Lynx employs Rheinmetall’s ADS active defense system, and Redback incorporates Elbit’s Iron Fist Light Decoupled APS. These give them a clear survivability edge in high-intensity peer combat environments. The Bradley M2A4 improves on earlier variants with upgraded ERA and belly armor but lacks a factory-integrated APS, reflecting its aging base platform.

Situational awareness and network integration reveal divergent paths. The KF41 leads with advanced 360-degree sensor fusion, high-definition electro-optics, and an open digital backbone. Redback also integrates multi-spectral cameras and soldier connectivity through augmented-reality-ready systems. Borsuk, while digitally native, is still catching up in terms of comprehensive sensor fusion and electronic warfare resilience. The M2A4 incorporates newer displays and targeting upgrades, but its underlying architecture limits future growth without a full redesign.

Troop capacity differs across platforms. Borsuk carries six dismounts plus a crew of three, slightly less than the KF41 and AS21, both of which support up to eight troops. The Bradley remains limited to six dismounts due to internal space constraints. Borsuk’s smaller troop bay is a consequence of its compact amphibious design, optimized for Polish strategic mobility rather than maximum capacity.

Strategically, the biggest differentiator is industrial sovereignty. Borsuk is fully designed, developed, and produced in Poland, giving Warsaw full control over lifecycle support, future upgrades, and export policy. The KF41 and AS21 are multinational products tailored for export, relying on foreign supply chains and political alignment for sustainment. The M2A4 remains strictly American, and while proven, it is no longer a growth platform for future capabilities.

In the end, Borsuk is not intended to outgun or out-armor the world’s heaviest IFVs. Instead, it delivers a highly mobile, amphibious, digitally integrated platform tailored to the geographic and operational realities of Central Europe. It’s a system built for Polish doctrine, not adapted from someone else’s. That distinction may prove decisive as NATO allies seek flexible, affordable IFV solutions amidst mounting threats and industrial pressures. While the KF41 and AS21 lead in raw technological sophistication, and the Bradley remains a combat-proven stopgap, Borsuk now enters the field as a serious indigenous alternative and a vehicle to watch in the shifting balance of armored warfare.