This Is Poland’s New Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle

Key Points:

• Poland unveiled the Ciężki Bojowy Wóz Piechoty (CBWP), a new heavy infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) designed to enhance armor and firepower for mechanized troops amid growing battlefield threats, particularly from Russia.
• The CBWP, weighing approximately 40 tons, prioritizes protection and survivability over amphibious capability, featuring advanced ballistic and mine protection, optional active protection systems, and integrated nuclear, biological, and chemical defense.
• Armed with the ZSSW-30 remotely operated turret, the vehicle carries a 30mm cannon with programmable ammunition and Rafael Spike anti-tank guided missiles, providing versatility against armored, infantry, and aerial targets.
• The vehicle is part of Poland’s broader military modernization, aiming to field a two-tier tracked IFV force alongside the lighter Borsuk IFV, with potential production starting around 2029 and plans for up to 700 CBWP units.
• The CBWP remains in the prototype phase, with factory trials underway and full testing with the Polish Armed Forces expected by 2027, pending final design adjustments and procurement decisions.