PGZ Interested In Romanian IFV Tender
PGZ have reportedly confirmed interest in taking part in the upcoming tender for Romania’s new IFV platform. Romania is about to begin the process of selecting a new Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs), and according to reports from Defense Romania the PGZ could be a key player in this competition. The country is focused on boosting its military capabilities in the context of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has increased security concerns in Eastern Europe. Romania’s military seeks to modernize its land forces to align with NATO standards, and the Borsuk could meet these requirements.
Romania’s growing interest in the Polish Borsuk Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) is driven by its urgent need to modernize its military capabilities, particularly in armored vehicles. The Badger could be an appealing option for Romania’s armed forces, which are looking to replace their aging Soviet-era BMP-1 and 2 vehicles.
One of the key features that makes the Borsuk a potential candidate for Romania is its versatility. Equipped with the ZSSW-30 remote-controlled turret system, it offers powerful armament, including a 30mm cannon, a 7.62mm machine gun, and Spike-LR anti-tank guided missiles. Additionally, the Badger’s amphibious capabilities allow it to cross water obstacles without special preparation, an advantage in terrain like Romania, where water crossings are common. This also declassifies potential competitors as there are few IFVs with amphibious capabilities on the market. Besides that, the Badger can be up-armored and serve in a conventional IFV role delivering more protection to
The production of vehicles for the Polish Armed Forces may cause difficulties in delivering vehicles for the Romanian Army, thus domestic production of the vehicle may be the only solution for meeting delivery schedules. This would be highly beneficial with the potential transfer of technology and an increase in Badger production volume to meet the needs of the Polish Armed Forces as well.
The details on the Romanian tender haven’t yet been released with requirements and conditions expected to be outlined by the end of 2024. Badger may face serious competition from platforms such as CV-90 and KF-41 Lynx, and PGZ will have to find a way to deliver almost 300 IFVs in a reasonable time, which may be the company’s greatest challenge.