Poland Unveils Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle Demonstrator as It Pushes Defense Export Ambitions

KIELCE, Poland — Poland is seeking to recast itself from a leading buyer of foreign military equipment into an exporter of its own, Deputy Prime Minister and National Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said at the opening of this year’s MSPO defense exhibition on Sept. 8.

Central to that message was the unveiling of a technology demonstrator for a new heavy tracked infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) developed by state-owned defense group PGZ. An IFV is an armored vehicle designed to carry infantry into combat while providing fire support. According to a PGZ representative, the new platform weighs between 40 and 43 tons and emphasizes troop protection. The company plans to show a prototype next year, with serial production possible in 2029 if the program progresses as outlined.

The heavy IFV would join PGZ’s light tracked Borsuk (Badger) IFV, which is already in production. The Polish Ministry of National Defence has ordered 257 Borsuks so far, with a 2023 framework agreement envisioning deliveries of up to 1,400 units across variants. Polish military officials have indicated roughly 700 heavy IFVs could eventually be procured for the Polish Army.

Kosiniak-Kamysz said the domestic industry has benefited from the European Union’s Security Action For Europe (SAFE) instrument, under which Poland has been allocated up to €43.7 billion ($50.8 billion) in low-interest loans for military acquisitions. He noted that purchases of Polish-made equipment now account for roughly half of the country’s military procurement, a balance he attributed in part to the SAFE mechanism.

Even as Warsaw advances domestic production and deeper cooperation with European partners, Poland remains one of the largest customers of U.S. defense manufacturers, with recent orders spanning Abrams tanks, F-35 fighter jets, AH-64E Apache helicopters, Patriot systems, and M142 HIMARS rocket launchers.

The expansion of European land-vehicle programs arrives amid a broader buildup across the Western defense industrial base, where tracked and wheeled armored vehicle demand has accelerated. U.S.-listed smaller-cap companies with defense exposure, such as National Presto Industries (NPK) — an Industrials-sector aerospace and defense player that also supplies ammunition and safety products — have drawn attention as investors track defense-spending trends. NPK shares traded at $148.53 recently, up 0.55% from a previous close of $147.72, valuing the company at roughly $1.06 billion.

What to watch

• PGZ’s planned presentation of the heavy IFV prototype next year, and any details on propulsion, armament, or partnership arrangements.
• Progress toward a formal Polish Army procurement program for heavy IFVs, which officials have indicated could total around 700 vehicles.
• Further Borsuk deliveries and variants under the 2023 framework agreement.
• Updates on Poland’s use of SAFE funding allocations as the program is implemented across the EU.

Source: original release