The origins of the Polish BWP 2000 full-tracked infantry fighting vehicle can be traced back to the days of the Warsaw Pact when Poland was working with Russia on local production of a wide range of armoured vehicles.

This included the Russian OKB-40 design bureau in Mytischi on the MT-S full-tracked transporter. Components of this were used in the development of the BWP 2000 infantry fighting vehicle which is also referred to as the Kalina.

Poland is now moving away from former Russian designs to Western-type systems and in 1997 the BWP 2000 was fitted with a fully developed and tested Italian Oto Melara OTO T60/70A turret.

The BWP 2000 was designed by OBRUM (Osrodek Badawczo Rozwojowy Urzadzen Mechnicznych) although any volume production will be undertaken by Zaklady Mechaniczne Bumar Labedy where production of the locally developed (from the Russian T-72) PT-91 MBT was undertaken for the Polish Army.

By mid-2005, there were no plans for the Polish BWP 2000 IFV to enter production for the Polish Army. The main priority of the Polish Army is the introduction of the Finnish Patria Armoured Modular Vehicle (8 × 8) and the possible upgrade of the BMP-1 with a new weapon system. The first production AMV was handed over in mid-2004 and a total of 690 are due to be produced. Description

The hull of the BWP 2000 is of all welded steel armour construction and over the frontal arc this provides protection against APFSDS-T projectiles of up to 35 mm in calibre. Over the roof and sides protection is provided against 12.7 mm rounds fired from a range of 100 m.

Over the complete vehicle protection is provided against 7.62 mm rounds from any distance and angle. If a higher level of protection is required additional armour can be fitted onto the hull and turret. This can be of the passive or explosive reactive armour type.

The driver is seated at the front left and has a single-piece hatch cover that lifts and swings to the right and in front of this is a single wide-angle periscope which can be replaced by a passive periscope for driving at night.

The power pack is to the right with the air inlet/outlet louvres in the roof and the exhaust outlet on the right side.

Mounted in the centre on the hull is the Italian Oto Melara T60/70A turret which is armed with a stabilised 60 mm rifled cannon and a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun. Mounted either side of the turret is a bank of four electrically operated smoke dischargers. This turret was developed as a private venture by Oto Melara and as of mid-2005 it remained at the prototype stage.

The troop compartment is at the rear of the BWP 2000 with the infantry entering and leaving via a power-operated ramp, which is also provided with an emergency door. Over the top of the troop compartment are two circular roof hatches which open to the rear and in each side of the troop compartment are two firing ports.

Suspension is of the torsion bar type with each side having six dual rubber-tyred roadwheels with the drive sprocket at the front, idler at the rear and three track-return rollers. The upper part of the track is covered by a sheet-metal skirt like that on the Russian BMP-2 and more recent BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles.

Standard equipment for the BWP 2000 includes an NBC system and a fire detection and suppression system. An unditching beam is normally carried at the rear of the vehicle.

The vehicle can be fitted with a snorkel that allows it to ford to a depth of 5 m or, when fitted with buoyancy aids, it can be fully amphibious being propelled in the water by its tracks. Variants

Although the prototype is fitted with the Italian Oto Melara T60/70A turret, a wide range of other turrets can be fitted including 40, 35, 25 and 23 mm cannon and a larger turret armed with a 105 mm gun.

In 1997, the BWP 2000 was also shown fitted with the Italian Oto Melara TC25 turret developed for the Dardo HITFIST. This is armed with an Oerlikon Contraves 25 mm KBA cannon, 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and a single launcher either side of the turret for a 3,750 m range Raytheon Systems Company TOW anti-tank guided missile.

A modified version of the BWP 2000 IFV chassis is used as the basis for the SUM tracked minelayer.

Specifications:

• day-night, panoramic, stabilised commander's sight and thermal, day-night gunner's sight with laser range finder

• personal and permanent arms of the crew and landing troops

• options: turret with main gun 25 or 30 mm (max. 105 mm)