Borsuk: Poland’s new infantry fighting vehicle balances amphibious mobility and protection

With Borsuk, Poland is replacing more than an obsolete infantry fighting vehicle. The programme links mechanisation, national industry and networked combat. The first 15 serial vehicles were handed over in late 2025. An initial order for 111 vehicles, including training and logistics, has therefore moved the long-running development effort into service reality.

Mission and layout

Borsuk carries an infantry section under armour and supports it with sensors and direct fire. A driver, gunner and commander operate the vehicle, while dismounts occupy the rear compartment. Amphibious operation matters in Poland’s river-rich terrain, but it forces a demanding compromise between mass, protected volume and buoyancy. That trade-off defines the vehicle more accurately than any marketing label.

The ZSSW-30 technology step

The Polish unmanned ZSSW-30 turret combines a 30 mm cannon, coaxial machine gun and anti-tank guided missiles with stabilised day, thermal and laser channels. Removing the crew from a turret basket preserves internal volume. Hunter-killer engagements and digital fire control may matter more operationally than a single gun-range figure because they shorten the chain from detection to engagement.

Protection and mobility

Modular armour, mine protection, CBRN systems and swimming capability are publicly confirmed. Exact resistance levels, side protection and signatures are not. Borsuk is not a heavy Namer-type vehicle; it is a mobile amphibious IFV. Additional armour can improve survivability, but every added tonne affects transportability and water performance. Claims that ignore this compromise oversimplify the design.

Industry and production

Huta Stalowa Wola leads a broad Polish supply chain. The first execution contract covers 111 vehicles plus training and logistics, with the first 15 serial examples delivered in December 2025. Poland’s long-term requirement is substantially larger. Production tempo, spares, turret output and integration into national command networks will determine how quickly the type becomes a dependable fleet.

Editorial assessment

Borsuk’s strength is not one spectacular number but a coherent package of domestic production, amphibious mobility, modern optics and accurate firepower. Protection is a deliberate compromise. The decisive evidence will come from unit availability, ergonomics and networked reconnaissance—and from whether the vehicle helps infantry fight effectively rather than merely carrying it.

Primary sources and method

This assessment uses official government, armed-forces and manufacturer material. Missing data are not replaced with estimates.

• Polish Ministry of National Defence – first serial Borsuk vehicles
• Huta Stalowa Wola – serial contract and delivery

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