BWP-1 is the local Polish Army designation of the classic Soviet-era 15-ton BMP-1 Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV). The original vehicle first appeared in 1966 and was manufactured through over 42,000 examples, leading to its global use with Soviet-aligned powers like China, India, and Czechoslovakia. Its numerical reach, and inherent versatility, has led it to still being featured prominently in many army inventories of the world today (2022).
The BWP-1 retains the same form-and-function of its Soviet counterpart. It sports a very shallow glacis plate at the bow and low profile turret over the mid-section of the vehicle. A conventional track-and-wheel arrangement is used in which six rubber-tired roadwheels are featured to each hull side. The drive sprocket is at front with the track idler at rear. A thin armored skirt provides basic ballistics protection along the sides of the hull. Hatches are positioned over the hull roof for each of the crewmembers which typically numbers three - commander, driver, and gunner. Up to eight passengers can be carried in the troop compartment and exit/entry is through a pair of hinged, reinforced doors (opening outwards) at the rear of the vehicle. The base armament is a 73mm 2A28 GROM smoothbore, short-recoil low-velocity semi-automatic main gun with 7.62mm co-axial machine gun.
The powerpack is offset to right of the driver in the bow and consists of a 6-cylinder, 4-stroke water-cooled diesel-fueled engine of 300 horsepower. Road speeds reach 40 miles-per-hour and operational range is out to 370 miles. The hull is suspended through an individual torsion bar arrangement with hydraulic shock absorbers located at the 1st and 6th road wheel mountings.
As can be expected, Polish industry went ahead in developing their own variants and sub-variants to suit local requirements. As such, the "BWP-1" designation covers several model forms with differing placement of the 7.62mm PK anti-infantry machine gun.
The "BWP-1D" is the Polish designation covering the Soviet BMP-1K mark. "BWR-1S" is the Czech BPzV "Svatava" model. "BWR-1D" (alternatively the "BWR1K") covered the Soviet BRM-1K and "ZWDSz-2" were staff command vehicles outfitted with extra communications equipment.
The BWP-1M "Puma-1" designation covers a localized Polish modernization of the BWP-1 which enhances crew and systems protection, creature comforts, adds night vision for the driver, modern Nuclear-Biological-Chemical (NBC) protection suite, updated navigation suite, and improved engine function. Within this mark were pilot vehicles to trial a 25mm-armed Delco turret, an Israeli 25mm OWS-25 "Overhead" weapon system, a United Defense turret, an Italian TC-25 "Hitfist" turret, and so on.
The BWP-1 "Puma RCWS-30" is another modernization, bringing along all changes featured in the BWP-1M models and adding the 30mm-armed Israeli Samson RCWS-30 Remote Weapons Station (RWS). Similarly, the modern BWP-1 "Puma MW-30" has a 30mm Bushmaster II Mk.44 armed MW-30 series turret emplacement with 7.62mm UKM-2000C anti-infantry machine gun and 6 x Smoke grenade launchers.
BWP-1S are modernized vehicles with a pair of thermal imaging systems and cameras, a laser range-finder, smoke screen generator, GPS navigation, and modern comms. BWP=1AK marks are modern offerings with reworked internals, improved protection, and modern night vision equipment and comms.
The BWP-40 was a pilot vehicle debuting in the 1993 but its development eventually stalled and cancelled. This version featured the CV9040 turret. The BWP-95 was another prototype attempt armed with a 23mm automatic cannon, a bunker-busting recoilless rifle, and Heavy Machine Gun (HMG).
April 2022 - Examples of the BWP-1 are part of the armored delivery Poland has made to neighboring Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
Power & Performance Those special qualities that separate one land system design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the BMP-1 (Soviet) Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV).
1 x UTD-20 6-cylinder, 4-stroke water-cooled, diesel-fueled engine developing 300 horsepower at 2,600rpm driving conventional track-and-wheel arrangement. Installed Power
40 mph 65 kph Road Speed
373 miles 600 km Range
Structure The physical qualities of the BMP-1 (Soviet) Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV).
3 (MANNED) Crew
22.1 ft 6.74 meters O/A Length
9.7 ft 2.95 meters O/A Width
6.8 ft 2.07 meters O/A Height
29,101 lb 13,200 kg | 14.6 tons Weight
Armament & Ammunition Available supported armament, ammunition, and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the BWP-1 (Bojowy Woz Piechoty-1) Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV).
1 x 73mm 2A28 GROM smoothbore main gun in front turret face.
1 x 7.62mm PKT machine gun in co-axial mounting in front turret face.
6 x Smoke grenade dischargers.
AMMUNITION: 40 x 73mm projectiles.
2,000 x 7.62mm ammunition.
6 x Smoke Grenades.
Variants Notable series variants as part of the BWP-1 (Bojowy Woz Piechoty-1) family line.
BWP-1 - Base Series Designation.
BWP-1M "Puma-1" - Modernization with improvements to battlefield survivability, crew comfort, and performance; various turret fittings trialed.
BWP-1 "Puma-E-8" - Modernized BWP-1 with 13 x Smoke grenade launchers installed; 30mm turret armament.
BWP-1 "Puma RCWS-30 - 30mm autocannon in Remote Weapon Station (RWS); Israeli RAFAEL 7.62mm anti-infantry machine gun.
BWP-1D - Soviet BMP-1K variant.
BWR-1S - Czech BpzV "Svatava" model.
BWR-1D / BWR-1K - Soviet BRM-1K .
ZWDSz-2 - Staff command vehicle with enhanced comms suite.
BWP-1S - Modernized variant with 2 x Thermal imaging devices, 2 x TV cameras, laser range-finder, GPS navigation; self-smoke-screen generator; modern fire control system.
BMP-1AK - Modernized variant with enhanced crew / systems protection; modernized night vision support and new radio comms.
BWP-40 - Pilot vehicle of 1993; CV9040 turret and armament.
BWP-95 - Pilot vehicle with 23mm main gun, recoilless rifle, and Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) fitted.
Operators Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the BWP-1 (Bojowy Woz Piechoty-1). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national land systems listing.
Total Production: 2,000 Units Contractor(s): State Factories - Poland
[ Poland; Ukraine ]
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