Polish Rosomak vehicles proving tough for Russians in Ukraine
Ukrainians released a "rare photo showing one of Ukraine's most advanced IFVs, the Polish-supplied KTO Rosomak-M1," reports the Ukrainian OSINT Technical profile on X, which specializes in open-source intelligence. Polish transporters are among the Western equipment pieces that Russians find most challenging to target on the front line.
Poland supplied the Ukrainian armed forces with 200 units of KTO Rosomak armored personnel carriers. According to data collected by the Oryx portal, the Russians have eliminated only seven of them so far. The Polish design, described as one of the most modern, is therefore a valuable tool for Ukrainians and simultaneously a challenging target for the opponent.
Although the Ukrainian army has been actively using Rosomaks since 2023, recordings and photos of them on the front line are rare. The OSINT Technical profile highlights new material that has appeared on social media.
Polish Rosomak vehicle
The company Rosomak SA, formerly known as the Military Plant in Siemianowice Śląskie, began production of the wheeled armored transporter at the beginning of the 21st century. Its prototype debuted in 2001, and mass production started two years later in 2003. By 2020, more than 900 units of this vehicle had left the factory.
The Rosomak is powered by a Scania D1 12 56A03PE turbocharged diesel engine, which delivers nearly 670 horsepower. It is connected to a German ZF 7HP 902S automatic transmission. The vehicle can reach a maximum speed of around 62 mph, and a full tank allows it to cover about 500 miles.
A key aspect of the Rosomak is its protection. It carries a crew of three people and eight dismount troops. Its layered armor can withstand shelling with 14.5 mm caliber bullets from the front and 7.62 mm from the sides. The main armor layer consists of steel plates 0.3 inches thick. Spaces between them can be filled with foam, which enhances the vehicle's buoyancy when crossing water obstacles.
The Rosomak-M1 visible in photos from Ukraine is a variant equipped with the Hitfist-30P turret by OTO Melara from Italy. This turret features an ATK Mk44 Bushmaster II automatic cannon with a 30 mm caliber and a UKM-2000C machine gun with a 7.62 mm caliber.
The Hitfist turret, weighing around 5,000 lbs, is built from aluminum alloy with additional external armor plates and composite material elements. These solutions enhance the combat effectiveness of the Rosomak, providing it with a higher level of safety on the battlefield.
