BMP-23

The BMP-23 (бойна машина на пехотата) is a Bulgarian infantry fighting vehicle which was first introduced in the early 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.

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.