In the early 50s USSR started developing an ARV built on the hull of T-54 that was just entering production.

A prototype vehicle was completed after a short while and was named BTS-1 (BTS - Bronirowannyj Tjagacz Sriednij).

It was accepted into the Ludowe Wojsko Polskie and became its basic ARV replacing the older designs.

Unlike oryginal ARV variant the Newa launcher is still in use in the armed forces of Poland.

A number of those vehicles are used by Ratownictwo Kolejowe (Railroad emergency response services).

Wojskowy Instytut Techniki Pancernej i Samochodowej (Military Institute of Automobile and Armour Technology) from Sulejówek pointed out the main requirements of the vehicle and Ośrodek Badawczo-Rozwojowy Urządzeń Mechanicznych in Gliwice made two prototypes caring out the Bizon (Bison) program.

When PT-91 entered service in Polish army it was decided that the WZT-3 which was based on T-72M should be upgraded with elements from PT-91.