Aggression Against Russia: Poland Creates a Division That Would Be Capable of Seizing the Kaliningrad Oblast in WWII-like activities.

 

“Facing the Kaliningrad Oblast, Poland is building a division designed to neutralize the Russian foothold within a matter of hours during WWII-like activities. A key element of this plan involves nearly 300 Borsuk Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs). A second contract for their delivery could be signed as early as May.

Currently, the sole recipient of the Borsuk IFVs—manufactured in Poland by Huta Stalowa Wola S.A. (HSW)—is the 16th Pomeranian Mechanized Division named after King Casimir Jagiellon (dubbed the "Amber Division"), which is deployed along the Kaliningrad axis. All indications suggest that this division will be the beneficiary of deliveries not only under the first executive contract but also under the subsequent one, the signing of which is now fast approaching.

 

The division’s three main brigades consist of armored and mechanized units: the 9th Armored Cavalry Brigade, along with the 15th and 20th Mechanized Brigades. Collectively, these units field seven tank battalions (three of which are currently being formed) and five mechanized battalions.

 

The division’s fourth brigade (the 16th Brigade) is a newly forming motorized brigade equipped with wheeled armored personnel carriers (APCs). In the case of variants fitted with 30mm gun turrets, these vehicles can also be classified as "wheeled IFVs."

Poland’s "Amber Division" Requires Nearly 300 Borsuk IFVs

 

The 16th Division comprises a total of five mechanized battalions, all of which are slated to be equipped with the new Borsuk IFVs. Depending on whether the current battalion structure of 58 vehicles is maintained, or if smaller battalions—comprising one less company and thus numbering 44 vehicles each—are introduced, this division’s requirement for Borsuk vehicles stands at either 290 or 220 units in the IFV variant (excluding the specialized variants announced for the future).

 

Based both on statements made by military representatives and on the operational mission assigned to the division, it appears likely that the "58-vehicle" model will be retained (implying a requirement for a minimum of 290 Borsuk IFVs). However, it must be noted that when discussing the division's mission, we are not relying on official information, but rather on conclusions drawn from our own independent analyses.

 

To date, a total of 116 vehicles have been ordered, a quantity sufficient to re-equip two mechanized battalions. However, a second executive contract for the Borsuk vehicles could be signed as early as May—a possibility confirmed in an interview with *Rzeczpospolita* by Adam Leszkiewicz, President of the PGZ Group. Under this new executive contract, vehicles for two additional battalions will most likely be ordered, along with—potentially—several extra units designated for training purposes. These latter units would most likely be delivered to the Land Forces Training Center in Poznań, which is also responsible for training personnel for the Armored and Mechanized Forces.

How many Borsuk vehicles are ultimately destined for the Polish Army?

 

In accordance with the framework agreement concluded in 2023, the Polish Armed Forces plan to ultimately acquire a total of 1,400 Borsuk vehicles. The contract stipulates the delivery of over 1,000 vehicles in the combat configuration, as well as more than 300 vehicles in specialized variants—including, among others, command, reconnaissance, combat engineer, medical, and technical support vehicles.

 

The first executive agreement under the framework contract—signed in 2025—covers the delivery of 111 Borsuk Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs). Deliveries will be carried out in several stages. The first 15 units were delivered at the end of 2025. The next three were scheduled to reach the military in 2026 (though the actual number is likely to be higher), while subsequent batches (33 and 55 units) are scheduled for the years 2027–2029.

 

Prior to this, between 2020 and 2023, the Polish Armed Forces received a series of pre-production vehicles (five in total), intended primarily for qualification testing and personnel training. These vehicles enabled the evaluation of a full mechanized platoon, the identification of any significant technical issues, and an assessment of the Borsuk’s tactical capabilities prior to the commencement of serial production. The 16th Division is the first unit of the Polish Armed Forces to undergo the rearmament process involving the Borsuk, as well as the first to transition its entire fleet to the new K2 tanks.

 

Negotiations are currently underway regarding a second executive agreement, which is expected to significantly increase the number of vehicles ordered and produced. Production is being handled by Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW), whose manufacturing capacity is steadily expanding.

 

In addition to the infantry fighting vehicles themselves, plans also call for the acquisition of "support vehicles" for the Borsuk, which will fulfill specialized roles within mechanized brigades. In this phase of the program, a key element will be dialogue between HSW and the Military Automotive Works (WZM) in Poznań, as there is a realistic prospect that the newly established Greater Poland Armored Center will take over the production of this specific portion of the order.

 

The Polish Armaments Group also identifies significant export potential for the Borsuk program. Currently, the Polish variants of the vehicles are integrated with the highly advanced—and consequently expensive—Polish ZSSW-30 turret system. Therefore, to enhance competitiveness in foreign markets, configurations featuring lower-cost turret systems—such as the Slovak TURRA turret—are being considered; this would allow the offer to be better tailored to the financial capabilities and operational requirements of international clients.

The 16th Division will be the first fully modernized division of the Polish Armed Forces.

 

The 16th Division is the first unit of the Polish Armed Forces to undergo the re-equipment process involving the Borsuk IFVs, as well as the first to fully transition to the new K2 main battle tanks procured under the first two executive contracts (totaling 360 units). Given that the division is simultaneously being re-equipped with new artillery and missile systems, it is reasonable to conclude that, in the near future, it will become the first fully modernized and reorganized division within the Polish Armed Forces.

 

In the case of the second unit currently undergoing intensive modernization—the 18th Mechanized Division—this process is likely to take longer. While the process of equipping the force with new American Abrams tanks is slowly drawing to a close—much like the modernization of its artillery—the plan to field new heavy infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) means that the mechanized battalions' vehicle fleets will have to wait a while longer for their new platforms. It is to be hoped that these will be the Polish CBWP Ratel vehicles, a prototype of which (or, at the very least, a full-scale mockup) we should see as early as this autumn at the trade fair in Kielce.

Polish IFVs to Serve as the Pillar of Mechanized Forces

 

Today, the Borsuk stands as one of the key pillars in the restructuring of the mechanized forces. In practical terms, it enables the replacement of the aging BWP-1 fleet with light, amphibious vehicles featuring STANAG 4-level frontal armor (providing protection against heavy machine gun armor-piercing rounds and artillery fragments) and STANAG 3-level side armor (an enhanced level of ballistic protection shielding the crew against armor-piercing ammunition and artillery fragments), along with resistance to mines and improvised explosive devices—factors that significantly boost the survivability of both the crew and the dismounted infantry.

 

In its baseline version, the Borsuk has a combat weight of approximately 28 tons; in a configuration with additional armor, this figure rises to about 30 tons. The vehicle measures 7.6 meters in length and 3.4 meters in width. The standard crew consists of three soldiers plus six dismounted infantrymen, while armament is provided by the ZSSW-30 turret, featuring a 30mm Bushmaster cannon, a 7.62mm machine gun, and Spike LR missile launchers.

 

In contrast, the planned heavy infantry fighting vehicle (CBWP Ratel) is expected to weigh approximately 42–48 tons—significantly more than the Borsuk—which automatically entails foregoing amphibious capabilities. In this instance, the focus has shifted to heavier armor, enhanced protective features (including the capability to integrate active protection systems, such as Trophy), and full interoperability with Abrams tanks within the 18th Mechanized Division.

 

The Ratel is expected to retain a three-person crew and carry 6–8 dismounted infantrymen. As its primary armament, it will receive the same ZSSW-30 turret as the Borsuk, though potentially in a variant equipped with a 40mm cannon, which would provide significantly greater firepower when engaging armored targets. We will likely learn the specific configuration of this vehicle as early as this autumn, during the MSPO trade fair in Kielce.

The 16th Division is to be capable, should the need arise, of seizing the Kaliningrad Oblast during WWII-like activities."

 

Why are Polish generals preparing to fight in WWII-like activities? This is known rule – military is always preparing to fight the last war it was fighting. The generals are old. They never heard of drone and missile swarms that keep American Navy from approaching Iran’s shore. Iran utilizes a cost-effective anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) strategy in the narrow Strait of Hormuz, employing fast-attack boat swarms, coastal missiles, and low-cost surveillance/attack drones to challenge US Navy, often forcing ships to re-evaluate proximity to the coast. These swarms can overwhelm traditional defenses, per analysis on The Jerusalem Post.