Poland Signs Framework Agreement For Delivery of 1,000+ Badger IFVs
This afternoon the Polish Minister of National Defense, Mariusz Blaszczak, signed the framework agreement to deliver more than 1,000 Badger Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) with Huta Stalowa Wola. It marks the beginning of the rearmament of Polish mechanized and armored divisions with the most modern military equipment, ending the use of the post-Soviet BMP-1s.
The Polish Ministry of Defense ordered 1,400 Badger IFVs from Huta Stalowa Wola. The delivery will also see improvements added to the vehicles during the production of successive batches. Back in 2022 the CEO of Polish Armament Group, Sebastian Chwalek, stated that HSW is ready to manufacture the IFV in large quantities.
The Badger IFV is equipped with the latest ZSSW-30 turret, which was also tested with the wheeled Polish wheeled IFV, the Wolverine. The new remote turret armament consists of a 30mm ATK-44 chain gun, UKM-2000C, and two Spike-LR ATGM placed in a container on the side of the turret. A PCO GOC-1 Nike optronic system also gives the crew a thermal vision sight, a laser range finder, and an external light sensor.
Huta Stalowa Wola will also be tasked with the development of a heavier IFV platform. The Korean AS21 was seen as a possible contender in this role, but the test undertaken back in December 2022 reportedly suggested that the vehicle suffers from some issues. According to PGZ spokesperson, Krzysztof Platek, there are plans for a heavy IFV which will be based on the K9 Thunder platform with the addition of the ZSSW-30 turret. Badger IFVs will complement the K2, M1A1, and M1A2 SEP v3 Abrams Main Battle Tanks providing protection for mechanized troops, the core of the Polish Armed Forces.