In 2026, the production capacity of Huta Stalowa Wola will increase 3 times. In addition to the production of Borsuk or Crab, HSW is working on further constructions. In June, investigation of the Borsuk prototype with the alternate engine of Cummins will begin. Work is besides underway on the dense combat infantry wagon and the concept of a floating caterpillar transporter (PTG). But that's not all.
The latest construction entering the Steel Wola Hut for production is the Borsuk Combat Infantry Car. Last week (27 March 2025) the first executive agreement was signed For the transportation of 111 wagons. Land troops will receive them by 2029. Thanks to the decision of the company's authorities to invest their own funds, the production of Borsuks started before the agreement was concluded, allowing the first batch to be transferred about 18 BWP this year.
Badger Time
Given the pre-ordered prototype vehicles, this number is adequate to equip the first 2 58-car battalions mechanized. The March agreement is only the first step in the implementation of Borsuk in the armed forces. The military estimated its needs for 1014 BWP and 341 utilizing the same caterpillar platform of specialist vehicles. The second in 10 versions – it is about command wagons, engineering, medical evacuation, contamination designation or self-propelled mortars.
On the occasion of signing the contract for Badsuki there were opinions about the price of Polish bewup. To clarify – simply dividing the amount of PLN 6.5 billion by 111 wagons is incorrect and confusing, due to the fact that the contract includes many another components, including logistics and training packages, the improvement and transmission of complete method documentation for serial production or the introduction of prototypes and pre-series vehicles to the standard of serial vehicles.
As large production capacity It should be remembered that Badger is not the only vehicle the company from Stalowa Wola provides to Polish armed forces. The most celebrated is the self-propelled crab. Its production is steadily increasing and is expected to be more than 50 all year.
For artillery units equipped with Crabs and South Korean Haubice K9 – in HSW, they are manufactured on the basis of light caterpillar chassis (LPG) of command wagons and command wagons. Next to them are built on wheeled armored transporters Artillery rosomac command wagons (for company fire modules with self-propelled mortars Cancer) and artillery reconnaissance wagons. HSW besides integrates South Korean rocket launcher modules with Jelcza chassis for lobster-K system. Steel Wola is simply a maker remote control tower systems ZSSW-30which are integrated not only with the Badgers but besides with the Rosomaks.
On the another hand, the production scale of BWP itself will grow from year to year and will yet scope around 100 wagons per year. It should be borne in head that the final number of completed vehicles per year is affected by the capacity of the co-operators to supply certain quantities of components and materials utilized in their manufacture. Therefore, they request to be ordered 2 or 3 years in advance, as they besides request time to increase their production, especially as they besides supply them to another arms producers who besides increase their production.
It is besides worth considering that Badger is simply a fresh project, which will be further developed and modified, including on the basis of conclusions from its operation in military units. Thus, subsequent lots of contracted vehicles may disagree from the first. The fact that Badger is not a closed task besides confirms work on a second alternate drive system, with the Cummins engine. Tests on prototype vehicles should start in June and last until the end of the year.
The Borsuk household will besides grow, as work on specialised vehicles will shortly begin. The first will most likely be command wagons (as part of the combat version are command and combat wagons with additional means of communication) and then medical evacuation wagons.
Expanding the hardware offer
Badger's on his way to becoming the crown jewel of the company alongside the crab cannonhaubic. Moreover, he can look forward to a bigger cousin, as HSW since 2023
He's working on a dense combat infantry car. It is worth explaining a misunderstanding. Well, the base for a dense bewup will not be the Crab chassis, but a completely fresh chassis. However, many components and solutions that have already been developed for another vehicles, specified as hydropneumatic suspension, are to be utilized in this vehicle. This approach will accelerate the plan work on the dense BWP and reduce its costs, and then let the production to start quickly. Although there are elements of construction, specified as stronger armor, which will request to be developed from scratch. As the fresh car will have more mass than the Badger, a new, stronger propulsion unit will besides be needed. For now, until the completion of the preliminary studies, HSW is financing the work on this task from its own resources. If this dense BWP goes into the military, his advanced level of unification with Borsuk will facilitate logistics and training.
On the another hand, in Autosana (a subsidiary of HSW), tactical multipurpose vehicles are manufactured 4x4 Waran and the assembly of Jelczy trucks is carried there. Varanas are delivered to the military as command carts and drone launchers for the Unmanned Gladius Search and Hit System. The second have radio equipment mounted on a folding mast, so they can act as a broadcast and receiving station. Waran is besides provided for Ottokar-Brzoz's program, which aims to make squadron-based tank destroyers modules with anti-tank guided missiles. The advanced versatility of this plan makes it possible to have many applications. Hence, HSW expects to receive orders for respective 100 varans. The HSW is besides working on a larger tactical Heron 6x6 multi-purpose vehicle, the first version of which will be a command vehicle for rocket artillery. Its size allows to usage it, among others, as a medical evacuation vehicle, or even an armored transporter.
HSW besides prepared a concept of a floating caterpillar transporter (PTG) that could replace PTS-M. The question of uncovering a successor for an old vehicle appears on the occasion of all major flood in Poland. Despite the passing of years, this caterpillar amphibia is irreplaceable during the relief action. In PTG assumptions, it would have a mass of 26 t and a burden capacity of 16 t. It is possible to produce military and civilian versions without armored cabins and weapons. The possible users of the second could be the fire department and the reconstruction of civilian defence.
The company from Stalowa Wola is besides curious in participating in the program of the fresh miner strategy on caterpillars. HSW representatives may propose different platforms, depending on the requirements of the military, especially as regards the number of launchers (mine throwers).
Power in artillery
For decades, 1 of the HSW specialties has been artillery. presently the company executes orders for about 180 Crabs. At the same time, work is underway on the modernization of the tower strategy of the cannon-haubic. New version to have automated rocket and cargo retention and a charging machine. A distant control weapon module with a 12.7 mm device weapon was besides provided. Modernization will reduce the number of Crab crew from 5 to 4 people.
HSW specialists are besides working on a 120 mm (MSSW-120) self-propelled mortar tower system, with the company's M69 marking. Although it was initially embedded on Borsuk's chassis, its plan allows installation on another vehicle. Unlike the version installed on the Rosomakas, the construction of the tower has been simplified to facilitate its production and later operation.
However, the latest artillery product is the alleged light tower, which is likely to be presented to a wider audience during this year's global Defence manufacture Salon in Kielce. According to the plan assumptions, the mass and size of the remote-controlled ZSMU-30 weapon module will enable it to be mounted on smaller media, specified as Waran.
Capital investment plan
New, increasing orders from the MON and expanding equipment offer make it essential to increase production capacity. Therefore, in fresh years extended investments have started in HSW S.A. and its companies. At the main plant of the company in Stalowa Wola there is an expansion of the main hall to 4 naves with a full area of 15 1000 sqm, and the 5th nave of 3 1000 sqm is planned. The main object is to have a full usable area of 64,000 sqm. The investment besides requires infrastructure acquired in 2023 by HSW S.A. from Chinese company LiuGong Dressta Machinery. These are the M16 assembly hall with an area of 68 1000 sqm and the Z2 hall where there was the Department of Drive Teams Sp. z o.o., with an area of 56 1000 sqm. These assets now function as Huta Stalowa Wola S.A. Branch I – Division of Drive Teams in Steel Wola.
Of course, investments are not limited to walls, but many modern devices and tools are acquired. Part of the production of advanced weapons will be robotic. In Stalowa Wola there will besides be a test-shooting track from the main armament of vehicles of up to 40 mm caliber.
The key to the future of HSW are production capacity its barrels, which according to long-term plans are to be the largest in Europe. The barrels of between 30 mm and 155 mm can be produced there, including KDA-35 mm for anti-aircraft kits. It is possible that the production of another caliber of guns and fresh tank cannons will begin there. HSW is curious not only in manufacturing but besides in servicing weapons. At the same time, it does not want to limit itself to the 1 already equipped by the Polish Army or intended to scope it in the coming years.
Already after the completion of part of the investment, HSW’s production capacity should increase about 3 times in 2026. All planned investments for a full amount of about PLN 1.2 billion are to be realised by 2030.
