On Thursday, December 14th, the Polish Armed Forces General Command (DG RSZ) announced on social media that the first 5 units of wheeled infantry fighting vehicles (KBWP) Rosomak (Wolverine in Polish) 8×8 equipped with Remote Controlled Turret System of 30mm caliber (ZSSW-30) have been delivered to the 21st Podhale Riflemen Brigade “Mieczysław Ludwik Boruta-Spiechowicz”.
Photos: DG RSZ via X
The first Rosomak IFVs integrated with an unmanned turret have been delivered to the 21st Podhale Riflemen Brigade. More specifically, 5 wheeled armored transporters integrated with remotely controlled turret systems ZSSW-30 with Spike ATGM launchers. The turret is equipped with Polish optoelectronic heads. The new equipment will be used to engage armored targets, enemy objects, and fortifications, as well as to provide fire support to subunits during combat operations, as stated in a brief announcement by the DG RSZ published along with photos on the X social media platform.
On July 5, 2022, Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW), a member of the Polish Armament Group (PGZ), signed the first executive contract with the Armament Agency as part of the framework agreement for the delivery of 341 serial production versions of the 30mm Remote Controlled Turret Systems to be integrated with wheeled armored transporters Rosomak used by the Land Forces. The first executive contract includes the delivery of 70 units of the ZSSW-30 as well as a logistics and training package. The contract’s value is nearly 1.7 billion PLN (approximately $425 million, and the implementation period spans from 2024 to 2027.
Then, on November 21, 2022, WB Electronics (a part of the WB Group) entered into a 4-year contract with PCO (a part of PGZ) worth over 206 million PLN (ca. $52 million) for the delivery of Commander Optoelectronic Heads (GOD-1) and Gunner Optoelectronic Heads (GOC-1) intended for integration with the ZSSW-30.
The ZSSW-30 will completely replace the Leonardo OTO Melara Hitfist-30P turret systems. The development of the new turret was commissioned by the former Armament Inspectorate of the Ministry of National Defense on March 29, 2013, to a consortium consisting of HSW and WB Electronics. Initially, it was expected to take 2 years, but it ultimately took longer. Qualification testing of two ZSSW-30 prototypes on the Rosomak began in January 2020 and was completed on October 1, 2021.
The ZSSW-30 is equipped with a 30mm automatic cannon from Northrop Grumman ATK Mk 44/S Bushmaster II, a 7.62mm general-purpose machine gun UKM-2000C, and a two launchers for the Rafael Spike LR anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs).
Subsequently, the ZSSW-30 will be integrated with the Borsuk (Badger) infantry fighting vehicles, over 1000 of which were ordered on February 28, 2023, as part of a framework agreement. The first deliveries are scheduled to commence in 2024-2025.
In the future, the ZSSW-30 will also be installed on several hundred Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicles (CBWP), for which a framework agreement was signed on August 14, 2023. The turret systems will be integrated with chassis constructed using components from the 155mm self-propelled howitzer AHS Krab.
It cannot be ruled out that, as part of standardization, the ZSSW-30 may also be incorporated into several hundred new-generation Wheeled Armored Personnel Carriers (KTO) that will be developed under the Serwal program. A framework agreement in this regard was also signed on August 14, 2023.
Pierwsze KTO Rosomak zintegrowane z bezzałogową wieżą trafiły do @21_bsp!
✔️ A dokładniej… 5 kołowych transporterów opancerzonych zintegrowanych ze zdalnie sterowanymi systemami wieżowymi ZSSW-30 z wyrzutnią #PPKSpike. Wieża ma 🇵🇱 polskie głowice optoelektroniczne. Nowy sprzęt… pic.twitter.com/vnZFPw2IYn
— Dowództwo Generalne (@DGeneralneRSZ) December 14, 2023
Nadchodzi nowa jakość w 🇵🇱 #WojskaLądowe! Pierwsze 5 KTO #ROSOMAK ze Zdalnie Sterowanym Systemem Wieżowym ZSSW-30 i ppk #SPIKE zawitały do @Zelazna_Dywizja.
📷#AU pic.twitter.com/khwJPSGK85
— Agencja Uzbrojenia (@AgencjaUzbr) December 14, 2023
ZSSW-30 służą do zwalczania celów opancerzonych oraz obiektów i umocnień wykorzystywanych przez przeciwnika. Systemy optoelektroniczne umożliwią realizację zadań niezależnie od pory doby, a także w trudnych warunkach atmosferycznych i klimatycznych.
📷5bsp pic.twitter.com/JUMXikIZQT
— Agencja Uzbrojenia (@AgencjaUzbr) December 14, 2023
