BMP-23
| BMP-23 | |
|---|---|
 BMP-23 on parade | |
| Type | Infantry fighting vehicle |
| Place of origin | Bulgaria |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 15.2 tonnes |
| Length | 7.28 m |
| Width | 3.05 m |
| Height | 2.53 m |
| Crew | 3 (7-9 passengers) |
|
| |
| Armor | >20 mm |
Main armament |
23 mm automatic cannon 2A14 9K111 ATGM "Fagot" |
Secondary armament | 7.62 mm machine gun (PKT) |
| Engine |
diesel YaMZ-238N (turbo charged) 315 hp |
| Power/weight | 20.7 hp/tonne |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
Operational range | 550 - 600 km |
| Speed | 62 km/h (road) |
The BMP-23 (бойна машина на пехотата) is a Bulgarian infantry fighting vehicle which was first introduced in the early 1980s. However, it was based on a design from the Bulgarian design bureau from the 1950s, being presented in 1960. Despite its name, the BMP-23 is very different from the BMP-1 and more similar in function to the BMP-2. The hull is based on that of the Soviet 2S1 self-propelled howitzer (also produced by Bulgaria) with thicker armour and a more powerful diesel engine, which is itself based on a stretched MT-LB chassis. Since the 2S1 is a larger vehicle, the troop transport compartment is not as cramped as that of the BMP-1. The armour is cast steel, capable of withstanding heavy machine gun fire. The turret is armed with a 23-mm autocannon 2A14 from the air-defence gun ZU-23-2 with 600 rounds, and initially an ATGM launcher for the 9K11 Malyutka, today with 9K111 Fagot ATGM.
The BMP-23 was first seen on a parade in 1984. It served with the Bulgarian army in Iraq along with the M1117 Armoured Security Vehicle.
Operators
Variants
- BMP-23D - Upgraded variant with 9K111 Fagot ATGM and 81mm smoke grenade launchers.
- BRM-23 - Reconnaissance version, prototype.
- BMP-30 - Modified BMP-23 with the turret taken directly from the BMP-2.
Sources
- BMP-23 infantry fighting vehicle (Bulgaria), Armoured personnel carriers (tracked), Jane's Armour and Artillery, 20 October 2010