Poland’s first serially produced Borsuk infantry fighting vehicles have officially entered service, marking a major milestone in the country’s long-running effort to field a domestically designed, modern tracked combat vehicle. Shortly after midday on 4 December, Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW) hosted a ceremony to hand over the initial batch of Borsuks to the Polish Armed Forces, in the presence of senior political and military leaders as well as defence industry representatives.
The first “herd” of Borsuk IFVs will go to the 15th Mechanised Brigade in Giżycko, a key formation deployed in the north-east of the country. These vehicles are being delivered under a March 2025 contract, which saw the Ministry of National Defence order 111 Borsuks at a total value of 6.57 billion złoty. Deliveries are scheduled for 2025–2029 and include a full training and logistics package. According to the current timetable, fifteen vehicles will reach the army this year, three more in 2026 and the remaining machines between 2027 and 2029. The total of 111 platforms includes 106 serial vehicles plus five prototypes rebuilt to full production standard.
Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz described the handover as a landmark. “Today is a great day for the Polish Armed Forces. The first fifteen Borsuks are going to the 15th Mechanised Brigade,” he said, stressing that the contract for 111 vehicles is only a starting point. The ministry is already preparing another order for an additional batch of Borsuks and is working on new variants beyond the standard infantry carrier, including command vehicles and specialised support versions. Some will retain the amphibious capability that is central to the original design, while others will be heavier, non-floating configurations optimised for maximum protection.
Kosiniak-Kamysz also highlighted the pace of industrial ramp-up at HSW. Production of the Krab self-propelled howitzer has doubled from 18 to 36 units per year, and more than 200 major systems have been manufactured in 2025 alone. Within that output, the minister noted, the Borsuk has been the most demanding product because it is being produced for the first time, requiring new tooling, procedures and supply chains.
Looking beyond national needs, the minister made it clear that Warsaw wants the Borsuk to become a flagship export product for the Polish defence group PGZ. “I would like Borsuk to be our export hit. Today the best-known PGZ product is the Piorun man-portable air-defence system. Together with Deputy Ministers Bejda and Gołota we will do everything to promote the Borsuk worldwide. The year 2026 should be the year of promoting Borsuk around the globe. Polish diplomatic missions are to support this effort,” he said.
Deputy Defence Minister Paweł Bejda, who oversees modernisation programmes, called the Borsuk an excellent vehicle that soldiers have been eagerly awaiting. In his words, the new IFV not only fills the gaps left by retired Soviet-era platforms but also significantly increases the sense of security for the troops of the 15th Brigade and future units that will receive it. He stressed that the handover ceremony does not mark the end of orders for HSW or for the broader Polish defence industry, which includes both PGZ companies and private-sector partners.
PGZ President Adam Leszkiewicz echoed that confidence, saying that successfully bringing the Borsuk to series production demonstrates the group’s ability to deliver complex armoured vehicles. He expressed conviction that industry will also rise to the challenge of developing a heavier, non-amphibious Borsuk variant. A prototype of that version, he said, is expected to be unveiled at next year’s defence industry fair in Kielce.
Technically, the Borsuk is a modern, amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle designed to transport and protect dismounted troops while providing strong fire support. It is built to shield soldiers from small-arms fire, rocket-propelled grenades and improvised explosive devices, combining high tactical mobility with substantial armour protection. Its armament is housed in the remotely operated ZSSW-30 turret and consists of a 30 mm Mk 44S Bushmaster cannon, a twin launcher for Spike anti-tank guided missiles and a coaxial UKM-2000C 7.62 mm machine gun. This combination gives the vehicle the ability to engage infantry, light vehicles and heavily armoured targets at varying ranges, while the unmanned turret reduces crew exposure and frees internal volume for troops.
The Borsuk’s design emphasises not only firepower but also survivability and flexibility. The vehicle features a high level of ballistic and mine resistance, reflecting recent combat experience in which threats from below and from the sides have proved as deadly as direct frontal fire. Its amphibious capability allows mechanised units to cross rivers and lakes without relying on scarce bridging equipment, a key advantage in the river-rich geography of Poland and the broader region.
With the first Borsuks now formally handed over, the focus will turn to fielding them in operational units, training crews and integrating the new vehicles into existing structures and doctrine. As more vehicles roll out of HSW’s production halls over the next four years, the Borsuk is set to become one of the most visible symbols of Poland’s shift from a user of foreign armoured vehicles to a producer of its own modern combat platforms.
