BMP-23

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 9M14 Malyutka, today with 9K111 Fagot ATGM.

BMP-23
BMP-23 on parade
TypeInfantry fighting vehicle
Place of originBulgaria
Specifications
Mass15.2 tonnes
Length7.28 m
Width3.05 m
Height2.53 m
Crew3 (7-9 passengers)

Armor>20 mm
Main
armament
23 mm automatic cannon 2A14
9K111 ATGM "Fagot"
Secondary
armament
7.62 mm machine gun (PKT)
Enginediesel YaMZ-238N (turbo charged)
315 hp
Power/weight20.7 hp/tonne
Suspensiontorsion bar
Operational
range
550 - 600 km
Maximum speed 62 km/h (road)

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.
BMP-30

Sources


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