The recent live firing exercise by the Polish Army marked a significant milestone as they showcased the enhanced capabilities of their Rosomak wheeled combat vehicles. The spotlight was on the ZSSW-30 (Zdalnie Sterowany System Wiezowy 30 mm – 30mm Remote Control Turret System) unmanned turret system, a product of collaborative efforts within the Polish defense industry. Delivered to the Polish Armed Forces in December 2023, the first batch of Rosomak vehicles equipped with the ZSSW-30 system stems from a strategic contract signed in July 2022. This contract, valued at around EUR 400 million, outlines the integration of 70 Rosomak combat vehicles from the Polish Armed Forces’ inventory with the advanced unmanned turret system.
Developed by a consortium comprising Huta Stalowa Wola and WB Electronics, the ZSSW-30 serves as a replacement for the previous Hitfist-30P turret on the Rosomak APC. The system is not limited to the Rosomak, as it is also slated to be integrated into the Borsuk IFV. A comprehensive framework agreement, previously inked by the Polish Armament Agency with the industry, underscores the broader vision for the ZSSW-30. The agreement encompasses the procurement of 341 unmanned turret systems, solidifying the commitment to modernize and equip the Polish military. The ZSSW-30 boasts cutting-edge features, including the Bushmaster Mk 44/S 30mm cannon, the UKM-2000 7.62mm machine gun, and Spike LR anti-tank guided missiles, reinforcing Poland’s position at the forefront of defense technology.
The main armament of the ZSSW-30 is the Mk44S Bushmaster II 30×173mm chain gun. Mk44S (Stretch) is a variant of the standard Mk44 gun that can be adapted to fire the 40×180mm SuperShot40 ammunition by swapping just a few components. The gun fires at a rate of 200 RPM for standard ammunition, and 120 RPM for ABM and has elevation angles extending from -9° to +60°. The gun has a dual feed system and is fed from the left side by two ammunition racks located on the left side of the turret – the smaller one, containing around 100 armor piercing rounds and the bigger one containing around 200 multi purpose rounds, which makes the turret’s first stage ammunition rack one of the biggest among similar systems. The ammunition used in ZSSW-30 is produced by Mesko, with the FAPDS-T being a domestic development and other ammo types being produced under a license from Nammo.
The KTO Rosomak (Ko?owy Transporter Opancerzony Rosomak, The Wolverine wheeled armored personnel carrier) is an 8×8 multi-role military vehicle produced by Rosomak S.A., a Polish Armaments Group company, in Siemianowice ?l?skie (Silesia voivodeiship). Components for the assembly were provided by Polish supply chains as used by Rosomak S.A., including Fortaco/Komas and Darekon. The original sub-contractors have become trusted suppliers of subframe parts and complete subframes. The KTO Rosmak is built under licence in Poland by WZM S.A. and has received a number of modifications to meet the needs of the Polish Army. KTO is an abbreviation for Ko?owy Transporter Opancerzony, which is Polish for “Wheeled Armored Vehicle” and Rosomak means “Wolverine”. First orders for the vehicle was placed in 2002. KTO Rosomak Infantry Fighting Vehicle is used to transport 8 troops into battle and to provide them with direct fire support. In 2023 Poland began supplying the KTO Rosamak to Ukraine, where it has seen battle.
