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 1970s, being presented in 1980s. 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 made of welded rolled steel, capable of withstanding heavy machine gun fire. ^[1]

BMP-23
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 (7-9 passengers)
Armor	>20 mm
Main armament	23 mm automatic cannon 2A14 9K111 ATGM "Fagot"
Secondary armament	7.62 mm machine gun (PKT)
Engine	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 was first seen on a parade in 1984.

Design

Armament

The turret of the BMP-23 is armed with a 23-mm autocannon 2A14 from the air-defence gun ZU-23-2 with 600 rounds, and initially the 9M14 Malyutka ATGM was used however this was later replaced on the BMP-23D modernization with the 9K111 Fagot ATGM. There is also a coaxial PKT machine gun. As the BMP-30 variant uses a turret from the BMP-2 it has no ATGMs and uses the 2A42 autocannon.^[2]

Variants

• BMP-23 - Baseline variant with 9M14 Malyutka ATGM.
• BMP-23D - Upgraded variant with 9K111 Fagot ATGM and 81mm smoke grenade launchers.
• BRM-23 - Reconnaissance version, limited production. Entered service in 1991.^[3]
• BMP-30 - Modified BMP-23 with the turret taken directly from the BMP-2.^[3]

Operators

•  Bulgaria: The BMP-23 has served with the Bulgarian army in Iraq.^[3]