Northrop Grumman has begun delivering the Mk44 Bushmaster II chain gun to equip Poland’s new-generation Borsuk infantry fighting vehicles. The 30-millimeter autocannon, widely used among NATO nations, is valued for its reliability, modularity, and suitability for a variety of armored platforms.
The Bushmaster II features a barrel length of 2,410 millimeters and an overall length of 3,405 millimeters, weighing in at 160 kilograms (353 pounds). It can operate with dual ammunition belts and be integrated onto infantry fighting vehicles, lighter armored systems, and even naval vessels. Its cyclic firing rate ranges from 100 to 200 rounds per minute, with an effective engagement range of about 3,000 meters on land and up to 5,100 meters at sea.
The Borsuk, introduced in 2017, is Poland’s first domestically developed tracked infantry fighting vehicle, designed to phase out the aging Soviet BMP-1s. Measuring eight meters in length and weighing 28 tonnes, the vehicle accommodates a crew of three and six troops. It is powered by a 720-horsepower MTU diesel engine paired with an Allison 3040 MX transmission, enabling speeds up to 65 kilometers per hour and a 550-kilometer operating range.
Warsaw signed a $1.7 billion deal last year to acquire 111 Borsuks by 2029, as part of a long-term plan to field a total of around 1,400 units. The fleet will consist of roughly 1,000 standard versions and an additional 400 specialized variants, reinforcing Poland’s modernization of its armored forces.
