Modernization Of The Last Few BWR-1s?

On Friday, February 2nd, the 1st Regional Logistic Base in Wałcz (1. RBLog.) published information about the signing of a contract worth 358,650,780 PLN ($88.95 million) with the Wojskowe Zakłady Motoryzacyjne from Poznań, which is part of the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), for the repair and modification of the combat reconnaissance vehicles BWR-1D and BWR-1S.

Photo: Jakub Link-Lenczowski, MILMAG

The agreement was concluded on January 19, 2024, and will be implemented between 2024 and 2026. Negotiations in this matter had been conducted since October 24, 2023.

This is the third agreement with WZM regarding this matter. The first one was signed on May 31, 2017, with a value of 76.3 million PLN ($20.9 million) – it included the overhaul and modification of 5 vehicles, including 3 BWR-1D and 2 BWR-1S. The second agreement was signed on April 29, 2021, and covered 18 vehicles. All work was completed in 2023.

In the meantime, during the XXVII International Defence Industry Exhibition MSPO 2019 in Kielce, the first modified vehicle was presented.

This means that there are 15 vehicles remaining that must still undergo modernization, as the ordering party has declared intent to modify all 38 BWR-1D/S vehicles in the inventory of the Polish Armed Forces. The value of the contract indicates that upon its completion, the above program will be closed.

The Polish Land Forces are equipped with two types of combat reconnaissance vehicles: 22 BWR-1D (original designation: BRM-1K) produced in the USSR and in service since 1987, and 16 BWR-1S (BPzV Svatawa) purchased from Czechoslovakia in the early 1990s. In the future, both types of vehicles will be replaced by new tracked reconnaissance vehicle Żuk (Beetle), made on the chassis of the universal modular tracked platform Borsuk (Badger).

The main contractor for all agreements is the Wojskowe Zakłady Motoryzacyjne, with subcontractors including PCO from Warsaw, PIT-Radwar from Warsaw (formerly Wojskowe Zakłady Łączności Nr 2 or Military Communication Works No. 2 from Czernica), and Wojskowe Zakłady Elektroniczne (WZE, Military Electronic Works) from Zielonka.

Modified BWR-1S and BWR-1D received identical sets of new equipment. Digital radio communication systems from L3Harris Technologies and Radmor (a part of the WB Group), an IT system along with a digital internal communication system, and a perimeter observation system based on the multifunctional thermal imaging binoculars Safran JIM LR were implemented. Another novelty is the SRC SR Hawk (V) 2E battlefield reconnaissance radar and the Etronika ZIG-T-2R integrated optoelectronic device.

The vehicles also received DAGR satellite navigation andTALIN 5000 positioning systems, SSP-1 Obra-3 laser warning system, AP4C automatic chemical contamination detection device, MIMID miniature mine detector, and DPO portable radiometer  Additional equipment includes Berberys C multi-spectral camouflage system, a 2 kW power generator set, parking heating, passive observation-sighting devices, tracked treads with rubber pads, ergonomic crew seats, and enlarged fuel tanks in the rear doors.