Slovakia Launches Production of BMP-1 Hulls, Secures First Foreign Order

Slovak company STV Machinery has launched production of BMP-1 hulls and has already received its first order from a foreign customer.

The company said development of the new BMP-1 hull began a year ago at the request of affiliated firm STV GROUP, which is part of the STV INVEST holding.

As part of the project, the BMP-1 design was updated to meet modern ergonomic and materials requirements. The work included complete digitalization of the design, selection of materials, development of new production documentation, and the creation of welding fixtures.

Unlike the original BMP-1, the new hulls are made from modern armored materials used in current Western armored vehicle production.

As a result, a fully functional prototype was produced, which has already completed trials and met the developers’ expectations.

Completion of the prototype enabled the company to secure a new strategic foreign customer and move toward serial production.

STV Machinery has signed a contract for serial production of BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle hulls, scheduled for 2026-2027. At full capacity, production is expected to reach up to 100 hulls per year.

“The launch of full-scale combat vehicle hull production is an important milestone for us. With a new serial production contract, we are entering a new phase — we are once again manufacturing heavy combat equipment from the first component to the finished product. This marks a strategic return to the company’s roots in mechanical engineering and defense production in Dubnica,” the company said.

The start of serial production is also linked to significant investment in robotic welding technologies from Austrian firm IGM Robotersysteme.

The new equipment, scheduled for installation in March 2026, will allow high-precision, repeatable welding of large structures. Additional investments include modern laser cutting systems and CNC press brakes.

In recent years, the company has played a key role in producing superstructures for ZUZANA 2 self-propelled howitzers, supplying dozens of units to the armed forces of Slovakia and Ukraine.