The Polish Army has taken delivery of its new Borsuk (Badger) infantry fighting vehicles to undergo operational testing.
The Borsuk was developed to replace the aging BWP-1 infantry fighting vehicles previously used.
“The needs of the Polish army are very large, and one of the important elements of this process is the replacement of worn-out armored fighting vehicles with new vehicles,” Poland’s deputy prime minister Mariusz Błaszczak said.
The testing of the new vehicles will be carried out in northern Poland and facilitated by soldiers from the 15th Separate Mechanized Brigade.
It will reportedly include shooting and tactical drills to assess the vehicle’s operational capability.
After the trial, the army will provide the developer feedback about the vehicle’s ergonomics and adaptability.
The Borsuk IFV
Poland’s Borsuk IFV is built on a universal modular tracked platform and weighs around 28 tons (61,729 pounds).
It can travel at a maximum speed of 65 kilometers (40 miles) per hour on paved roads and up to eight kilometers (4.9 miles) per hour when overcoming water obstacles.
The vehicle can accommodate nine soldiers, including the commander, gunner, and driver.
The Borsuk is armed with a Bushmaster Mk 44/S 30mm gun, 7.62mm UKM-2000C machine gun, and a dual launcher of Spike-LR anti-tank missiles.
It can neutralize infantry, armored vehicles, and aerial targets at any time of day and in adverse weather conditions.
Modernizing the Force
The delivery and testing is part of Warsaw’s ongoing military modernization effort.
Upgrading the force is necessary to maintain combat readiness and versatility, according to NATO Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Poland commander Lt. Col. Sean M. Castilla.
“Both our armies are currently prioritizing modernization efforts in order to meet the adversarial threats around the world,” he said.
“In order to meet the challenges associated with those threats, modernizing and upgrading our fighting power is the key to war fighting mastery.”