BMP-23

BMP-23
BMP-23 on parade
Type	Infantry fighting vehicle
Place of origin	Bulgaria
Specifications
Mass	15.2 tonnes
Length	7.28 m
Width	3.05 m
Height	2.53 m
Crew	3 (+7 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
Maximum 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. Despite its name, the BMP-23 is very different from the BMP-1 and more similar to BMP-2. The hull is based around that of the Soviet 2S1 "Gvozdika", but with thicker armour and a more powerful diesel engine. Since the "Gvozdika" is a larger vehicle, the troop transport compartment isn't 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

• Bulgaria - 50 or less in service

Variants

• BMP-23D - Upgraded variant with 9K111 Fagot ATGM and 81mm smoke grenade launchers.
• BRM-23 - Reconnaissance version, prototype.

BMP-30

• 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