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 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. Despite its name, the BMP-23 is very different from the BMP-1 and more similar to BMP-2. The hull is based on 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

Variants

BMP-30

Sources


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