Poland’s defense ministry has signed a €1.55 billion contract for 111 “Borsuk” infantry fighting vehicles as part of a drive to bolster the nation’s military amid fears of Russian aggression.
Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said the Borsuk (“Badger”) is the first fully domestically designed and built infantry fighting vehicle for the Polish army.
He added he was optimistic about creating adapted versions of the vehicle for export to allied nations.
“This order for 111 Borsuk vehicles is just the beginning. We plan to order more,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said.
The agreement, signed between the Polish Armament Group and state-owned defense firms, includes logistical and training packages in addition to the vehicles.
Deliveries of the new Borsuks are set to begin this year and continue until 2029.
The Borsuk is an amphibious infantry fighting vehicle designed to improve the mobility and protection of Polish troops. It features advanced armor, modern weapons systems, and enhanced battlefield awareness technology.
The contract is part of Poland’s broader effort to modernize its military in response to security concerns in the region, mainly Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Poland has accelerated defense spending in recent years and procured advanced equipment including U.S.-made Abrams tanks, HIMARS rocket systems and Apache attack helicopters, and South Korean Chunmoo rocket artillery units, K2 tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers and FA-50 combat trainer aircraft.
According to NATO’s 2024 estimates, Poland is the highest defense spender relative to GDP among the military alliance’s members.
