Poland seeks new modular vehicles to replace T-72 and BWP-1

The Polish Armament Inspectorate has launched two separate technical dialogues for next-generation combat vehicles, based on a universal modular tracked platform (UMPG).

The UMPG-based vehicles are intended to replace the Polish Land Force's Soviet-era T-72 tanks and BWP-1 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs). The future UMPG is planned to be in two versions - light and heavy - with as many common components as possible for a wide range of combat and auxiliary vehicles. The estimated cost of the UMPG programme to 2022 is PLN8.65 billion (USD2.84 billion).

The first dialogue, for the heavy variant of the UMPG (termed 'Gepard' (Cheetah)), covers an initial two vehicle types: Direct Support Vehicles (DSVs) and Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARVs). The DSV will be a 35 tonne combat vehicle armed with an auto-loading 120 mm gun. Targeting the DSV requirement, Polish firm OBRUM unveiled its PL-01 Concept at the MSPO defence exhibition in September.

Meanwhile, the second dialogue focuses on the light UMPG variant, called Borsuk (Badger). The first and most important element of the Borsuk programme is an IFV to replace the ageing BWP-1. Under previous operational requirements, the future IFV was required to be amphibious, with an unmanned turret armed with a 30-40 mm automatic cannon and two Israeli Spike anti-tank guided missile launchers. It is unclear, however, if this requirement has been changed and the swimming capability is still included.

The Polish Land Command is expecting to adopt the first production batch of new vehicles in around 2018. The planned withdrawal of over 350 Polish T-72 main battle tanks (introduced in 1979 and manufactured under licence in Poland between 1981 and 1991) and over 1,100 BWP-1 IFVs (introduced in 1973, with the last delivered in 1988) is scheduled to start in 2018 and will be finished in 2021.