Polish Rosomak APCs bolster Ukrainian frontlines
One unit of the Ukrainian army has showcased an armoured personnel carrier (APC) Rosomak in service at the front. This is Polish equipment, which is not a particularly frequent sight in reports from the front. Let us remind you of its most important features.
Ukraine is one of the few users of the Rosomak APC. The carriers initially served exclusively in Poland and the United Arab Emirates. According to information in the public domain, 200 units were to be delivered to Ukraine. This was mentioned by, among others, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky. The first recording, in which the Rosomak APC was visible at the front, appeared online in late July 2023.
Rosomak APC in Ukraine
In the subsequent months, not many similar recordings were published. However, photos have now been shown confirming that the Rosomaks are still serving at the front, and at least one of them is being used, among others, by the 44th Independent Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian army.
In terms of design, the Rosomak APC is a vehicle built under the licence of the AMV XC-360P vehicle by the Finnish company Patria. Measuring 7.8 metres in length and 2.8 metres in width, it weighs approximately 22,000 kilograms. It has an 8×8 drive and a Scania D1 12 56A03PE engine with a turbocharger, enabling it to move at a maximum speed of 100 kilometres per hour. In the field, it also benefits from a ground clearance of 0.4 metres and the ability to overcome vertical obstacles up to 0.5 metres in height.
As for its armament, the Rosomak APC has a Hitfist-30P turret in the most common combat variant. Units equipped in this manner have been seen in earlier reports from the front in Ukraine. It is fitted with an ATK Mk 44 cannon with 30x173 mm rounds and a UKM-2000C machine gun. Additionally, the crew has six ZM Dezamet 902A smoke grenade launchers of 81 mm calibre.
This is not the only option, however. It is worth noting that Polish Rosomak APCs equipped with remote-controlled turret systems ZSSW-30 have already conducted the first live-fire tests. An important element here is the Spike anti-tank guided missile launcher, which has a range of up to 4 kilometres.
