A Slovak defence manufacturer is bringing back a classic of the Cold War battlefield. STV Machinery, part of the broader STV Group, has restarted production of the BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle hull—known in Poland as the BWP-1—apparently for a foreign client whose identity has not been disclosed. The secrecy has immediately sparked speculation that the end user could be Ukraine, although no confirmation has been provided and the company has not indicated where the vehicles are ultimately headed.
The project is not presented as a simple reproduction of a Soviet-era design, but as a modernised industrial effort built around a redesigned hull that reflects contemporary production methods and battlefield requirements. Work on a modified BMP-1 hull prototype was commissioned by STV Group and carried out by its subsidiary STV Machinery, with development beginning in 2024. A single prototype has already been completed, and the company says the hull is fully functional and has passed initial tests successfully.
Serial production is currently planned for 2026–2027, with output estimated at roughly 100 vehicles per year. If those numbers are achieved, the programme would represent one of the more striking examples of an EU and NATO-based firm returning to a legacy Soviet platform at scale, at a time when most European armies are replacing such vehicles with new Western-designed infantry fighting vehicles.
The Slovak design reportedly focuses on two areas: ergonomics and materials. The hull has been updated for modern manufacturing and, crucially, digitised. That shift to a fully digital design process makes production more repeatable and adaptable, enabling modern tooling, more precise quality control and easier integration of different sub-systems. STV Machinery also indicates that new hulls will be built using new materials, likely newer grades of armoured steel more comparable to those used in Western vehicles than the original Soviet-era alloys.
Several structural changes suggest the Slovak version is being prepared for a different configuration than the original BMP-1. One notable modification is the reduction in the number of roof hatches for the infantry compartment from four to two. This is widely interpreted as an attempt to make space for a different and potentially larger turret system, with analysts pointing to compatibility with the Turra-30 turret family as a plausible direction. Such a turret swap would be significant, since the original BMP-1’s armament—built around a 73mm low-pressure gun—reflects a very different doctrine and would be poorly suited to modern anti-armour threats and drone-heavy battlefields.
At the same time, the most important unanswered questions revolve around the mechanical heart of the vehicle. The hull may be new, but the BMP-1 platform depends on an engine and transmission system originally tied to Soviet-era supply chains. It remains unclear whether STV Machinery plans to use legacy components, refurbish existing powertrains, or integrate Western-made replacements. That decision would strongly influence both cost and deliverability, especially given the difficulty of sourcing original parts and the need to ensure maintainability for the eventual operator.
The revival of BMP-1 production in Slovakia points to a broader wartime and post-wartime reality in Europe: demand for armoured vehicles can outstrip the pace at which entirely new platforms can be manufactured and delivered. For some customers, a modernised legacy hull—especially if it can accept a new turret, upgraded protection packages and updated electronics—may offer a faster route to rebuilding mechanised infantry capacity than waiting for next-generation vehicles.
Where these Slovak-built BMP-1s will go remains the central mystery. If Ukraine is indeed the buyer, the logic would be clear: it still operates Soviet-derived systems, its forces and maintenance networks are deeply familiar with the platform, and rapid scaling of production matters more than perfect modernisation. If the customer is another country, the purchase could reflect a desire for an affordable, quickly deliverable tracked vehicle that can be upgraded incrementally. Either way, the programme illustrates how the war in Eastern Europe has not only accelerated innovation, but also revived older industrial pathways once assumed to be closed for good.
