Polish Armoured Vehicles And Their Modernizations.

[Damian]

So it is done, finally Polish Army received first batch of 15 Borsuk IFV's. But there is more, Armaments Agency and Polish Armaments Group are negotiating 2nd executive agreement for 2nd production batch, we also probably talk about well over 110 IFV's + some number of specialist variants.

Also HSW is working on heavy IFV Ratel, technology demonstrator or 1st prototype is scheduled for official presentation in 2026.

[Markus Becker]

First? So this August and last we saw pre production variants. 

In completely unrelated matters, any AFV program called szop? 

[Damian]

8 minutes ago, Markus Becker said:

First? So this August and last we saw pre production variants. 

In completely unrelated matters, any AFV program called szop? 

There were 5-6 prototypes/pre-production vehicles + 18 full rate production vehicles during assembly, so right now first 15 full rate production vehicles had been provided to the 15th Mechanized Brigade.

As for Szop (Raccoon) this is just Polish Army name for Plasan SandCat, used by Military Police.

Edited December 5, 2025 by Damian

[Markus Becker]

It's more than a bit surprising to think that the BMP is still in huge active service in the Polish Army, though I think, well hope that the most active units got Rosmarks. I sat in a BMP. The rear compartment is wrong even if you are in civilian clothing. To think of being in full gear 😱

 

 

[Damian]

1 hour ago, Markus Becker said:

It's more than a bit surprising to think that the BMP is still in huge active service in the Polish Army, though I think, well hope that the most active units got Rosmarks. I sat in a BMP. The rear compartment is wrong even if you are in civilian clothing. To think of being in full gear 😱

 

 

General Staff and MoD made a decision recently, to speed up rearmament, and considering production tempo of Rosomak wheeled APC/IFV variants as well as production tempo of Borsuk IFV, we might take 250 Strykers in different variants from US Army for symbolic 1 USD. These vehicles would be treated mostly as interim solution, and when replacement will be avaiable, we will either sell them, or maybe transfer to Territorial Defense Forces.

But only vehicles, that will receive positive opinion during technical inspection made by the Polish Army specialists.

Around 250 Strykers would allow to rearm approx 2 motorized/mechanized brigades.

[Markus Becker]

On second thought,

are just 250 used and non standard APC that are meant to be an interim solution worth the logistical/training effort? How much longer would the BWP-1M "Puma" have to be used if the army waits for Rosomak/Borsuk as replacement?  

 

 

[urbanoid]

44 minutes ago, Markus Becker said:

On second thought,

are just 250 used and non standard APC that are meant to be an interim solution worth the logistical/training effort? How much longer would the BWP-1M "Puma" have to be used if the army waits for Rosomak/Borsuk as replacement?  

 

 

Let's say that's... a matter of a somewhat heated debate. 

[Damian]

2 hours ago, Markus Becker said:

On second thought,

are just 250 used and non standard APC that are meant to be an interim solution worth the logistical/training effort? How much longer would the BWP-1M "Puma" have to be used if the army waits for Rosomak/Borsuk as replacement?  

 

 

There is no BMP-1M Puma in service. It was upgrade proposal that went nowhere. We use only BMP-1's that are configured as they were when they were delivered from USSR. And these BMP-1's are each year more difficult to maintain. So interim solution is necessary.

 

[Markus Becker]

No digital fire control, no passive night vision retrofitted? That's unexpected. I guess more than one plan to replace them failed/was badly delayed. 

[Damian]

1 hour ago, Markus Becker said:

No digital fire control, no passive night vision retrofitted? That's unexpected. I guess more than one plan to replace them failed/was badly delayed. 

BMP-1's replacement should start around 2010, but politicians had problems to make decisions and spend money.

[Markus Becker]

So we are looking at the exception of the otherwise rather successful programs to replace or modernize Soviet era systems. Unexpected but in the end human. 

[Damian]

Nice graphic. 

Monday 15th December, next K2/K2PL license and sublicense agreement between Hyundai Rotem and Zakłady mechaniczne Bumar Łabędy will be signed.

[Damian]

So I believe it's time to make some debrief so far, when it comes to the modernization of Polish Armor and Mechanized Forces and Artillery Forces.

So far we received:

- 116/116 M1A1FEP

- 117/250 M1A2SEPv3

- 180/296 K2GF + 0/64 K2PL

- 15/111 Borsuk IFV (1014 Planned In Total)

- 35/128 Rosomak ZSSW-30 IFV + 0/80 Rosomak-L ZSSW-30

- 58/212 AHS Krab

- 212/218 AHS K9A1

- 174/290 Homar-K MLRS

- 20/20 (506) M142 HIMARS

Here is more or less accurate list - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_equipment_of_the_Polish_Land_Forces#

[Rick]

when I think of a well trained and equipped European army with good morale, I think of Germany and Great Britain. Where does Poland fit into this? To me, it appears Poland is at or headed to the top of the list.

[Damian]

56 minutes ago, Rick said:

when I think of a well trained and equipped European army with good morale, I think of Germany and Great Britain. Where does Poland fit into this? To me, it appears Poland is at or headed to the top of the list.

At this moment regular army is a 100% proffesional force, supported by volunteer basic service and volunteer based Territorial Defense Forces.

However there is more and more discussion about restarting conscription to create reserves for wartime at a much larger scale and faster pace. General Staff already confirmed they started to prepare plans for full conscription if there will be political decision with green light.

You might want to see some videos made by MoD.

 

Edited December 15, 2025 by Damian

[Damian]

Important news, Huta Stalowa Wola started manufacturing of first batch of Heron 6x6 APC's, at the moment first manufactured variant is C2 variant for WR-40 Langusta and Homar-K MLRS, in total 30 vehicles of that variant were ordered.

Heron 6x6 might in future be manufactured in more variants, like for example simpler and cheaper APC for Territorial Defense Forces.

[Markus Becker]

What's the longer term plan for your MRAPs? Wouldn't that be a good enough protected vehicle for rear area security? And cheap too. 

[Damian]

22 minutes ago, Markus Becker said:

What's the longer term plan for your MRAPs? Wouldn't that be a good enough protected vehicle for rear area security? And cheap too. 

We already have plenty. Polish Army have 124 M1240A1 MATV, 300 Cougar H 4x4, and right now we are slowly procuring Waran 4x4 + Heron 6x6 from HSW. We also have HMMWV's and Legwan (KLTV), right now plans call for procurement of over 1000 Legwan's in various variants.

[Damian]

First winter firing range of 2nd Tank Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade, 18th Mechanized Division with their M1A2SEPv3's.

[Damian]

Great video, showing joint excercises Winter Falcon 26 between Polish Army and US Army.

Edited Saturday at 01:19 PM by Damian

[Damian]

[Damian]

M1A2SEPv3, 2nd Tank Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade, 18th Mechanized Division.

[Markus Becker]

18th(?) Mechanized Division

How do you do unit designations? I'm fairly sure Poland has less than 9 divisions total. But one that's called the 18th. Traditional names? 

[urbanoid]

13 minutes ago, Markus Becker said:

18th(?) Mechanized Division

How do you do unit designations? I'm fairly sure Poland has less than 9 divisions total. But one that's called the 18th. Traditional names? 

Yes, also called the Iron Division, like the interwar predecessor.

https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/18_Dywizja_Piechoty_(II_RP)