Polish army to replace Soviet BMP-1s with modern vehicles
New heavy tracked infantry fighting vehicles will be manufactured by Polish industry.
On August 14, Polish Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak approved an agreement that provides for the supply of several hundred heavy armored personnel carriers to the army, which are to be manufactured by a local manufacturer.
The agreement was concluded between the Polish Arms Agency and a consortium that includes Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (state-owned arms concern) and Huta Stalowa Wola.
The first BMPs will be delivered to the Polish Armed Forces starting in 2025. At the same time, the military will be trained in their use. The combat vehicles are intended to replace the outdated BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles in the Polish Army.
The Polish heavy infantry fighting vehicle will be built on the same chassis as the Krab self-propelled howitzer (it is manufactured under the license of the Korean K9 Thunder). The weapon is a remotely controlled ZSSW-30 combat module. A similar module is installed on the new Polish Borsuk infantry fighting vehicle.
The ZSSW-30 is armed with a 30-mm Bushmaster Mk 44/S cannon with a 200-round ammunition capacity and a 7.62-mm UKM-2000C machine gun with a 400-round ammunition capacity, as well as a dual Spike-LR anti-tank missile launcher. Additional hinged armor can be installed on the module to increase the level of armor protection.
The main task of a heavy IFV will be to destroy enemy armored vehicles and manpower, destroy shelters and field fortifications in a direct encounter with the enemy on the battlefield.
The Polish combat vehicle will have a crew of three and will carry 8 paratroopers, as well as provide fire support in all weather conditions, day and night. The vehicle will have a high level of ballistic and mine protection.
The agreement signed on Monday also provides for the expansion of the Polish production and service infrastructure of defense companies.
