While the BMP-1 remains the IFV of choice for Russian forces, Poland’s interest in looking inward for a replacement makes sense.
The concept driving the infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) is nearly a century old, yet these tried and trusted systems continue to be effectively used in modern warfare. In an effort to further bolster its defense, Poland recently penned a whopping $1.7 billion deal to acquire 111 Badger tracked IFVs. Set to replace their Soviet-era BWP-1 counterparts, the Polish-designed armored vehicle is considered to be more capable in the current threat climate in Eastern Europe. While procuring a homegrown military system will benefit Warsaw’s economy, phasing out the aging BMP-1s will simultaneously bolster the nation’s defense. As asserted by Poland’s deputy prime minister and defense minister, “Security and the economy, these two things are combined within the Borsuk. Security, because we gain excellent equipment developed in Poland, and the economy, because all this money goes to Polish defense companies.”
An Overview of the BMP Series
Like many of the military systems Russia currently relies on, the BMP-1 amphibious tracked IFV was derived in the Soviet era. Upon reaching operational capacity, the BMP-1 quickly became the first mass-produced IFV ever fielded by the USSR. Derived from the Red Army’s armored personnel carriers (APCs), the BMPs were developed to incorporate the “battle taxi” capability of keeping soldiers nearby battle tanks in combat. Unlike their German counterparts, Soviet APCs were not designed to stick around a gun fight and fend off lighter targets but to retreat upon being fired on. While APCs were useful, the Soviets desired a fighting vehicle that would allow soldiers to fire on targets from within. Additionally, the Soviets wanted these new vehicles to be fully sealed, therefore providing protection to its operators.
Highlighting the BMP-1’s Specs and Capabilities
The BMP-1 was the Soviets’ solution to these requirements. Syrian and Egyptian forces were able to test out the tank IFV system against Israeli main battle tanks (MBTs) in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. The BMP-1 IFV’s steel exterior indeed granted greater protection for crew members from small fire. In terms of fire power, these IFVs were equipped with both the 73mm 229 Grom gun and the 9M14 Malyutka anti-tank wire-guided missile.
Based on its upgraded capabilities, the BMP-1 achieved instant export success abroad. Today, the major operators of these vehicles include Russia, India, China, and Poland. While the BMP remains the IFV of choice for Russian forces amid its ongoing Ukraine invasion, Warsaw’s interest in looking inward for a replacement makes sense. According to Defense News, the new Polish Badger is set to replace the BMP as the nation’s tracked IFV. “The March 27 contract marks the first executive deal to be signed within a 2023 framework contract for a total of 1,400 Borsuks and accompanying vehicles.”
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter:@MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: JMK, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons