Polish Armed Forces to Sign New Rosomak APC Deal in the Coming Weeks [EXCLUSIVE]

In response to Defence24.pl’s inquiry, spokesman for the Armament Agency, Lieutenant Colonel Grzegorz Polak, confirmed that two procurement proceedings are underway regarding the Rosomak wheeled APC, with a ZSSW-30 turret. The first one, concerning 58 carriers, refers to the standard Rosomak carriers, while the second, involving 174 platforms, refers to the extended Rosomak-L variant. The contract regarding the first 58 carriers is expected to be signed »in the coming weeks« and the second in the fourth quarter of this year.

The newly procured Rosomak carriers will be fitted with the new Scania DC13 engine. The legacy Scania DI12 engine is no longer available. Let us add that the Polish Armed Forces are currently receiving the first batch of Rosomak APCs outfitted with the ZSSW-30 turret systems. They are existing vehicles, however, they have been integrated with the new turret systems.

After the turret system passed qualification tests in late 2021, a contract was awarded in 2022 for the delivery of 70 APCs, with a deadline set in 2027. The first APCs from that batch have already been commissioned in the 21st Highland Brigade. It is worth recalling that the Rosomak carrier in the existing variant with the ZSSW-30 turret, passed tests that included the amphibious capability requirement, but the buoyancy reserve proved - in the military’s assessment - too low so that the amphibious requirement was eventually excluded.

Rosomak-L is a variant of the Rosomak platform the length of which went up from 7.8 to 8.4 meters. It also includes other enhancements, including the option of heightening the protection levels offered by the armour. As we can see, some of the enhancements, the new engine included, will also be integrated onto the existing Rosomak variant coming off the production line.

The plans made to sign an agreement regarding the new Rosomak APC with ZSSW-30 were reported by Defence24.pl last year. Rosomak procurement programme has been divided into two, separate procurement processes, possibly to accelerate the deliveries. As Lt. Col. Polak pointed out, the delivery of the vehicles from the first contract is expected to happen in 2026, and the long variant vehicles are expected to be delivered between 2027 and 2029. The framework agreement that provides for the purchase of a total of 341 ZSSW-integrated carriers, once the aforementioned contracts are concluded, would be almost completely used. Supply of the APCs to the Polish Army is all the more important since a number (probably dozens) of Hitfist turret-fitted carriers were delivered to Ukraine, in addition to a significant number of BWP-1 IFVs. The Rosomak platforms are to be replaced by the Nowy Kołowy Transporter Opancerzony (New Wheeled APC). A framework agreement was signed last year, concerning the development of that prospective replacement.

ZSSW-30 is an unmanned turret system that was developed between 2013 and 2021. The project was carried out as an R&D study, by a consortium formed by HSW and WB Electronics. The turret is armed with the Bushmaster II Mk 44/S cannon that can be converted to shoot 40x180 mm rounds and ABM projectiles. The turret is also fitted with a Spike-LR ATGM launcher and a coaxial machine gun. The turret features an advanced, domestically-developed hunter-killer/killer-killer-capable fire control system, utilizing PCO optoelectronic systems as sensors. A modified variant of this turret is also used on the Borsuk IFV. It is also expected that its derivative will be used on the CBWP (Heavy IFV) platform in the future.

The WB Group has been demonstrating the upgrade potential the turret has - also showcasing the implementation of AI in the FCS. ZSSW-30 can also be integrated with a different ATGM. In December 2023, responding to Defence24.pl’s inquiry, the Armament Agency announced a plan to fit the Rosomak platform with anti-tank missiles:

“Two procurement procedures are underway simultaneously, concerning further Rosomak APC vehicles with ZSSW-30 turrets, integrated with ATGM launchers, including procurement of 58 examples of ROSOMAK APC with ZSSW-30 with SPIKE-LR ATGM and another 174 examples of APC with ZSSW-30 integrated with designs proposed by different manufacturers, and considered by the Armament Agency, including the aforesaid Spike and Javelin ATGMs, whereas the decision on selection of the ATGM will result from the procurement process underway and depends on the negotiation involving the foreign partner, regarding the transfer of technologies for the Polish contractor”.