Ukraine's frontline asset: The resilient Rosomak
Ukrainians have released a "rare photo showing one of the most modern Ukrainian infantry fighting vehicles," reports the Ukrainian OSINT Technical profile on X, which specialises in open-source intelligence. This refers to the KTO Rosomak in the M1 variant. Polish transporters remain among the Western equipment pieces that Russians find most challenging to target on the front line.
Poland supplied the Ukrainian armed forces with 200 KTO Rosomak armoured personnel carriers. According to data from the Oryx portal, the Russians have eliminated only seven. Hence, the Polish design, described as "one of the most modern," is a valuable asset for Ukrainians and 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
Rosomak SA, formerly known as the Military Plant in Siemianowice Śląskie, began producing the wheeled armoured transporter at the beginning of the 21st century. Its prototype was unveiled in 2001, and mass production began two years later, in 2003. By 2020, more than 900 units of this vehicle had been produced.
The Rosomak is powered by a Scania D1 12 56A03PE turbocharged diesel engine that delivers nearly 670 horsepower. It is paired with a German ZF 7HP 902S automatic transmission. The vehicle can attain a top speed of roughly 100 km/h, and a full tank allows it to cover about 800 kilometres.
A key aspect of the Rosomak is its protection. It carries a crew of three and eight dismounted troops. Its layered armour can withstand shelling from the front with 14.5 mm calibre bullets and 7.62 mm from the sides. The main armour layer consists of steel plates 8 mm thick. Spaces between them can be filled with foam, enhancing the vehicle's buoyancy when crossing water obstacles.
The Rosomak-M1 seen in photos from Ukraine is a variant equipped with the Hitfist-30P turret by OTO Melara, an Italian company. This turret features an ATK Mk44 Bushmaster II automatic cannon with a 30 mm calibre and a UKM-2000C machine gun with a 7.62 mm calibre.
The Hitfist turret weighs around 2,300 kg and is made of aluminium alloy. It has additional external armour plates and composite material elements, which enhance the Rosomak's combat effectiveness and provide a higher level of safety on the battlefield.
