Time for Polish Badgers

Several twelve whiszaks at the turn of October and November spent six weeks there. First, they assimilated theory, learned how the systems function, and the principles of safe operation. - The next phase is the practice, i.e. driving in hard terrain and shooting with a deck gun, day and night, in place, while driving and at short stops - says Lt. Alexander the Lab, commander of 3 mechanized companies 15 BZ. It is her division that will service on BWP Borsuk.

Practically proven

The fact that the fresh floating infantry car will hit Mazury first was known for a long time. The hangers took part not only in training, but besides in tests and polygon studies in their own backyard. BWP Borsuk had already been tested by future users at the training ground in Orzysz 2 years ago. At that time, it was assumed that vehicles would be equipped with 15 BZ in early 2024.

However, the extended waiting time was not lost, as HSW gathered conclusions from soldiers and implemented the essential modifications. Users tested in practice not only the operation of the main systems, armaments, etc., but besides the ergonomics and usefulness of seemingly insignificant elements, which for a soldier in combat are of tremendous importance.

One of our comments was on the paint covering the ramp. After the rain or snow falls, the ramp got slippery and frequently the soldiers slipped, says the sick. Piotr Krauz of 15 BZ. After this, the maker applied a peculiar anti-slip mat to the ramp and inside the vehicle, which solved the problem. Another modification introduced at the request of users afraid the attachment of individual weapons in the landing compartment.

- The soldiers, taking their seats in the vehicle, place the carbines while they drive on peculiar handles. Originally they had Velcro straps that would lose their functionality after any time. Thanks to our observations, this has besides been modified - says Krauz, stressing his close cooperation with HSW in designing specified elements. Serial Badgers are no different in terms of mechanics than copies that were tested in Orzysz, but specified seemingly insignificant changes were possible to make more.

In the 21st century

Badger is simply a vehicle designed for the transport and protection of a three-man crew (a crew commander, driver, arms operator) and six infantry soldiers against gunfire, anti-tank grenade launchers and IED (improvised explosive devices). The fresh BWP was equipped with ZSSW-30 (remotely controlled tower system), developed by HSW and WB Electronics.

The tower has a Bushmaster II Mk 44S 30 mm automatic cannon, a 7.62 mm UKM-2000C firearm and a Spike LR PPK launcher. Thanks to the ZSSW-30, the commander and gunner can independently detect, indicate and fight targets, and each of them can take control of the weapon. The tower was equipped with a laser radiation detection strategy OBRA-3 SSP-1 integrated with 8 smoke grenade launchers and a Fonet interior communication system.

In combination with the possibilities of the car itself, this means a completely fresh quality for mechanized infantry units, which in the Polish army inactive uses BWP-1 wagons. In the 1960s, the russian BMP-1 (a combat infantry machine) built on Polish BWP set fresh standards in combat activities, but present it is more suitable for the museum.

- The BWP-1 armor can be fired with a 7.62 mm caliber bullet and destruct virtually all kind of mine. BWP Borsuk provides the crew with not only greater protection, but above all a situational awareness on a completely different level - said Major Andrzej Seweryniak, commander of the 1st Mechanized Battalion of the Mazowieckie Szwoleżer 15 BZ.
"The transition from BWP-1 to Badgers allows us to enter the planet of digital field management. In the fresh car we have the positions of another vehicles represented on the digital map, we can manage the battlefield at the level of the platoon commander, the company, sending voice messages and data packages via satellite communication, without utilizing radio stations call artillery in the procedure call for fire - mentioned Major Severyniak.

It besides highlights the increased reflection capacity of the crew. Thanks to the cameras, soldiers know what's going on on on all side of the car. besides within the landing scope are monitors allowing squad commanders to measure the situation before soldiers go outside.
Officer 15 BZ speaks equally positively of Borsuk's weaponry. - Unlike BWP-1, Borsuk is an equal opponent for each combat car. The 30 mm caliber cannon is fast-shooting and although it will not penetrate any armor, it is able to disable even the tank, destroying reflection devices, barrel, device gun's nest - says the major, who accompanied his soldiers on polygon tests in Nowa Dęba.

Perfect fit to the site

When the construction of a fresh fighting infantry car for the Polish army was initiated in 2014, from the beginning it was assumed to make not only a vehicle with specialized armor, a modern tower, integrated with network-centric systems, but besides capable of overcoming wide water obstacles.

For soldiers stationed on Mazury, in the Land of the 1000 Lakes, this is highly important, as is the fact that a vehicle on a caterpillar platform will be able to follow tanks in all area. In any situations it may be replaced by wheeled Rosomaki, but these can't handle any obstacle as well as a caterpillar vehicle. Besides, they're little armored than the Badgers.

In the future, even higher levels of protection are expected to supply soldiers with dense combat infantry wagons (CBWP). HSW presented a model of specified a vehicle at this year's global Defence manufacture Salon in Kielce as CBWP Ratel. The prototype is to be ready for investigating before the end of 2026, and it will not be essential to wait as long as the lighter BWP (HSW will usage experience and solutions developed for Badsuk).

- The CBWP will fight in a small different terrain than the Badgers. These are designed to be utilized in an area characteristic of the Suwałki pass, where we have many rivers, lakes, which thanks to this vehicle we can pass without preparation. CBWP will work better in the "Bialystok Gate", where Abrams will besides operate. The area is even more, little wet - explains Major Seweryniak. Under specified conditions, heavier and more armored equipment, i.e. CBWP and Abrams tanks, is more suitable than the BWP Borsuk duo and the K2 Black Panther tanks, in which battalions of 15 BZ have been fitting for any time.

Needs for the Future

Delivering the fresh BWPs to the Giżycka brigade is simply a breakthrough event, but it is only the first step. In addition to another badgers, hangers will request specialized wagons on the universal modular caterpillar platform (UMPG), which are included in the framework agreement of 2023.

The paper assumes that the Polish Armed Forces will get a full of about 1.4 1000 vehicles: above all Borsuki, but besides track-laying Żuk reconnaissance transporters, caterpillar Oset command wagons, Ares contamination transporters, method safety wagons Gekon and medical evacuation vehicles Gotem.

The second 2 are peculiarly important. On the battlefield, Gotem will follow the Badgers to where Rosomak will not enter for medical evacuation. Similarly, in 15 BZ he is with Gekon, due to the fact that with towing a 28-ton BWP he can't handle e.g. Rosomak WRT. In turn, the tank WZT-2, as noted by the commander of the 1st Battalion of the Mechanized Mazovian Schwolezers, has adequate power, but there is no suitable adapter for towing Borsuk.
When will specified wagons rise? Currently, task work is inactive ongoing in HSW. The first executive agreement, signed by the Armed Forces Agency and consortium of PGZ and HSW companies in March 2025, assumes the transportation of 111 BWP Borsuk vehicles from 2025 to 2029 with the provision of crew training, logistics package, etc.

By the end of the year, respective Badgers will be assigned to the Gyżyka brigade, and more will be devoted next year. The end of the russian era of BWP in the Polish army will not happen overnight, but BWP Borsuk in the equipment of 15 BZ is simply a long-awaited beginning of changes that will supply the Polish infantry with completely fresh capabilities.