- Yes
- No
BWP-1M with Sharpshooter
HISTORY
Following the political shifts of the early 1990s, the Polish Land Forces faced an urgent need to modernize their massive fleet of legacy Soviet-era BWP-1 infantry fighting vehicles. The original 73 mm 2A28 Grom low-pressure gun and optics were deemed obsolete for the modern battlefield. To address these shortcomings, the R&D center OBRUM along with ZM Bumar-Łabędy initiated work on modernizing the vehicle.
The proposed range of modifications included replacing the baseline turret with an aluminum turret featuring additional steel armor supplied by United Defense. This assembly housed a 25 mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun with an automatic loading system and a rate of fire of 200 rounds per minute. The Sharpshooter turret featured a full two-plane electric stabilization system for accurate firing while on the move, alongside a modern day and night sight equipped with a 2nd-generation thermal imaging camera.
BWP-1M during functional tests
The chassis retained the UTD-20 engine paired with a mechanical synchronized five-speed gearbox and two-stage planetary steering mechanisms. The vehicle’s amphibious capabilities were enhanced through the addition of two foldable, ducted screw propellers installed at the rear of the hull.
A technology demonstrator was constructed and passed functional tests before being publicly showcased at MSPO 1997. However, the modernization failed to gain recognition in military circles, and the design was not proceeded with further.
CHARACTERISTICS
ARMAMENT
Turret: Sharpshooter
- Horizontal/Vertical guidance speed: 60 deg/s
25 mm M242
- Elevation: -9°/+48°
- Two-plane stabilizer
- Fire rate: 200 rds/m
- Ammo capacity: 200 rds ready racked
- Ammo: Standard 25 mm
- 7,62 mm M240
- Ammo capacity: 230 rounds
MOBILITY
- Crew (3): Driver, Commander, Gunner
- Engine: UTD-20
- power: 221 kW / ≈300 PS @ 2300 rpm
- Transmission:
- Gears: 5 forward, 1 reverse
- Max speed: 65 km/h
- Max swimming speed: ? km/h
- Turret combat weight: ~1500 kg
- Amphibious
OPTICS, ELECTRONICS
Gunner optic: ?
- Thermal camera
- 2-nd generation
- Day camera
DIMENSIONS
Overall length: 6735 mm
Overall width: 2940 mm
Height with turret: 2483 mm (based on NFV-1)
Summarized characteristics
- Crew (3)
- Driver, gunner, commander
- 25mm M242
- Ammo: Standard 25mm
- Elevation: -9°/+48°
- Two-plane stabilizer
- Fire rate: 200 rds/m
- Gunner sight
- Thermal camera
- 2nd generation
- Thermal camera
- Turret combat weight: ~1.5 t
- Engine: UTD-20 221 kW / ≈300 PS @ 2300 rpm
- Max speed: 65 km/h
- Length 6,73 m Width: 2,94 m Height: ~2,48 m
Photos
Sources
Armament, Optics, electronics
- UD Sharpshooter on IFVL
- Jane’s Armour and Artillery Upgrades 2002-2003