List of modern equipment of the Bulgarian Land Forces

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This article is about weapons and equipment. For detailed information on history and deployment, see Bulgarian land forces.

This is a list of some of the equipment currently in use by the Bulgarian land forces.

Overview

A highly detailed description of the total military technology of the entire military including the land forces, air force, and navy, along with the active, reserve, and stored surplus equipment can be downloaded as a word document here: http://www.mediafire.com/download/heyrxhrnpqx06mz/Bulgarian+Military.docx, or as a pdf file here: http://www.mediafire.com/download/ba571l7jiid2tf8/Bulgarian+Military.pdf.

Small arms

Sidearms

Model Image Origin Type Caliber Notes
Makarov pistol  Soviet Union
 Bulgaria		 Handgun 9×18mm Local production And Standard Issue To Army. Copy pistols were produced since 1960. Arsenal 10 produced them between 1970 and 2007. Can be recognised through "((10))" arsenal markings, straight hammer serrations, slim star grip shells.[1]
SIG Pro  Germany Handgun 9×19mm Parabellum Used by Bulgarian Military Police
Arcus 98DA  Belgium
 Bulgaria		 Handgun 9×19mm Parabellum

Assault rifles

Model Image Origin Type Caliber Notes
AK-47  Soviet Union
 Bulgaria		 Assault rifle 7.62×39mm Local Production and In Reserve [2]
AKM  Soviet Union
 Bulgaria		 Assault Rifle 7.62×39mm Produced locally and In Reserve.[1][3]
AR-M1  Bulgaria Assault Rifle 5.56×45mm NATO Standard Issue infantry rifle of the Bulgarian Army and (variation of AK-74) and AKS-74U are manufactured locally.[4]
AR-M4SF  Bulgaria Assault rifle 5.56×45mm Carbine rifle by Arsenal JSCo (Special Forces)
Heckler & Koch G36  Germany Assault Rifle 5.56×45mm NATO Standard assault rifle of Military Police
Steyr AUG File:Steyr-AUG.jpeg  Austria Assault Rifle 5.56×45mm NATO Special forces only. In limited use with the SOBT

Submachine guns

Model Image Origin Type Caliber Notes
Arsenal Shipka  Bulgaria Submachine Gun 9×18mm Makarov Standard Issue SMG of Army.
Heckler & Koch MP5  West Germany Submachine Gun 9×19mm Parabellum Used By Bulgarian Special Forces and Military Police.
FB PM-63  Poland Submachine Gun 9×18mm Makarov Used by Bulgarian Special Forces.
AKS-74U  Soviet Union
 Bulgaria		 Personal defense weapon 5.45×39mm Used by Bulgarian Military police

Sniper rifles

Model Image Origin Type Caliber Notes
Dragunov sniper rifle  Soviet Union
 Bulgaria		 Semi-automatic sniper rifle, designated marksman rifle 7.62×54mmR Local Production[1]
Heckler & Koch PSG1  Germany Semi-automatic sniper rifle 7.62×51mm NATO PSG-1A1 Variates and used by Military Police of Bulgarian Army.
Heckler & Koch MSG90  Germany Sniper rifle 7.62×51mm NATO
Blaser R93 Tactical  Germany Sniper rifle 5.56×45mm
Barrett M82 File:M82A1 barrett.jpeg  United States Anti-materiel rifle .50 BMG Used by Bulgarian Special Forces

Machine guns

Model Image Origin Type Caliber Notes
RPK  Soviet Union
 Bulgaria		 Light machine gun
Squad automatic weapon		 7.62×39mm M43 Produced by Arsenal as the LMG in three different calibers, 7.62×39mm, 5.45×39mm and 5.56×45mm NATO. A folding stock variant is known as the LMG-F.[1][5][6][7]
PK machine gun  Soviet Union
 Bulgaria		 Universal machine gun 7.62×39mm Used by Special forces and Regular units, Produced locally. PK/PKM copies were produced as the MG-1 & MG-1M.[1][8]
NSV machine gun  Bulgaria Heavy machine gun 7.62×54mmR Standard Issue Heavy machine gun of the Bulgarian Army and Produced by Arsenal [9]

AT weapons

Model Image Origin Type Caliber Notes
RPG-22  Soviet Union
 Bulgaria		 LAW HEAT with penetration of 400 mm versus RHA Bulgarian Army, local production at VMZ Sopot.[10]
RPG-7  Soviet Union
 Bulgaria		 Rocket-propelled grenade launcher 40 mm Produced locally by Arsenal Corporation as ATGL-L.[11]
SPG-9  Soviet Union
 Bulgaria		 Recoilless gun
Anti-tank gun		 73 mm (2.87 in) smoothbore[12] SPG-9DNM (local production)

Mortars

Model Image Origin Type Caliber Notes
M6-211 Mortar  Bulgaria Light Mortar 60mm Local Production
M8 Mortar  Bulgaria Medium Mortar 81mm Produced locally
M82  Soviet Union Medium Mortar 82mm [13]
2S12 Sani  Soviet Union Heavy mortar 120mm [13]

Other small arms

Model Image Origin Type Caliber Notes
FN 303  United States Semi-automatic less-lethal riot gun 17.3 mm (0.68 in) In use with the Land Forces and the Military Police.[14]
GP-25  Soviet Union
 Bulgaria		 Grenade launcher 40mm caseless grenade Made under license by Arsenal AD as the UBGL[15] and the UBGL-1.[16]
UBGL-M6  Bulgaria Grenade launcher 40mm caseless grenade Underbarrel grenade launcher by Arsenal JSCo.
UBGL-M7  Bulgaria Grenade Launcher 40mm caseless grenade Underbarrel grenade launcher by Arsenal JSCo.
AGS-30  Bulgaria Automatic grenade launcher 40mm caseless grenade 30×25mm grenade launchers, AGS-17 derivate by Arsenal JSCo
Mk 19 grenade launcher  United States Automatic grenade launcher 40 mm grenade

Anti-tank guided missiles

Model Image Origin Type Caliber Notes
AT-2 Swatter  Soviet Union Anti-tank missile HEAT In Reserve.
AT-3 Sagger  Soviet Union
 Bulgaria		 Anti-tank missile HEAT Produced locally and In Reserve.
AT-4 Spigot  Soviet Union
 Bulgaria		 Anti-tank missile High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) warhead Produced locally.
AT-5 Spandrel  Soviet Union Anti-tank missile 9N131 HEAT Produced locally
AT-6 Spiral  Soviet Union Anti-tank missile HEAT shaped charge
AT-7 Saxhorn  Soviet Union Anti-tank missile HEAT shaped charge
AT-12 Swinger  Soviet Union Laser beam-riding anti-tank missile 100 mm projectile

Man-portable air defense systems

Model Image Origin Type Caliber Notes
SA-7 Grail  Soviet Union
 Bulgaria		 Man portable surface-to-air missile launcher 1.15 kg directed-energy blast fragmentation warhead (Strela-2M), 370 g HE content Local Production and In Reserve.
SA-14 Gremlin  Soviet Union
 Bulgaria		 Man-portable air-defense systems 1.15 kg directed-energy blast fragmentation warhead (Strela-2M), 370 g HE content Produced locally and In Reserve.
SA-16 Gimlet  Soviet Union
 Bulgaria		 Man-portable air-defense systems 1.17 kg (2.6 lb) with 390 g (14 oz) explosive Produced locally
SA-18 Grouse  Soviet Union
 Bulgaria		 Man-portable air-defense systems 1.17 kg (2.6 lb) with 390 g (14 oz) explosive Produced locally

Armoured vehicles

Name Origin Type Number Photo Notes
Armoured fighting vehicles
T-72A/M2  Soviet Union /

 Bulgaria[17]

Main battle tank 270 [13] 500 in reserve

Indigenous tank design, based on the Russian T-72M1.[17][13]

T-62 Soviet Union Main battle tank 0 270 Tanks are in reserve
T-54/T-55 Soviet Union Main battle tank 0 1400 tanks are kept in storage in the city of Montana, Bulgaria
BMP-23/30  Bulgaria Infantry fighting vehicle 215 Locally designed Infantry Fighting Vehicle with a 23-mm automatic cannon, 9K111 Fagot anti-tank guided missile launchers with a total of six missiles and an SA-7 Grail MANPADS.
BMP-1P  Soviet Union Infantry fighting vehicle 300 [13] Soviet tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicle with a 73-mm smoothbore gun.
BTR-60PB  Soviet Union Armoured personnel carrier 781 ~30 are modernized to the BTR-60PB-MD1 standards
MT-LB / MT-LBu  Soviet Union/ Bulgaria Armoured personnel carrier 540 [13] 2160 in reserve. Light multi-purpose vehicle; mostly used as an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC)
BRDM-2  Soviet Union Scout car 74[13] Armoured scout car
9P148 "Konkurs"  Soviet Union Anti-tank vehicle 24 Anti-tank vehicle based around the BRDM-2 with five AT-5 Spandrel missiles
M1117  United States Patrol vehicle 17[13] 4x4 multi-purpose armoured patrol vehicle; 6 deployed in Afghanistan
UAZ-469  Soviet Union Patrol vehicle Unknown Off-road military light utility vehicle
Plasan Sand Cat  Israel Patrol vehicle 25[18] 4x4 armoured patrol vehicle used by the Military Police service
HMMWV  United States Multi-purpose vehicle 52[13] Deployed in Afghanistan
Mercedes-Benz G-Class  Germany Armoured jeep 600 [13] A contract has been signed with Germany to raise the number up to 12 000 in 2020.4x4 armoured G 280 CDi and non-armoured G 270 CDi jeep; partially armed with locally produced PKM machine guns
International MaxxPro  United States Armored fighting vehicle 4[13] Deployed in Afghanistan
Mercedes-Benz Zetros  Germany Off-road truck for extreme operations 335[13] As of 2012, it operates 335 trucks with 30 more on order.
Tatra 815  Czechoslovakia Truck Unknown

Artillery and air defense

Name Origin Type Number Photo Notes
Artillery
MT-12  Soviet Union Anti-tank gun 200 100-mm anti-tank gun, now used mostly as conventional HE artillery
D-20  Soviet Union Howitzer 150 152-mm towed howitzer; principal heavy artillery piece of the Bulgarian Army
2S1 Gvozdika  Soviet Union Self-propelled howitzer 506[13] 122-mm self-propelled howitzer; produced locally as Karamfil; ~500 in storage
BM-21  Soviet Union Multiple rocket launcher ~192[13] 122-mm multiple-launch rocket system; 200 in reserve.
SS-21 Scarab-A  Soviet Union Tactical ballistic missile 8 The only remaining ballistic missile system from the now-disbanded Rocket Forces; 8 TELs and 16 missiles with a 70 km range are in service
Air Defense
ZU-23-2  Soviet Union AA gun 128 Most ZU-23-2s in Bulgarian service are mounted on ZIL 131 trucks
S-60  Soviet Union AA gun 16 Heavier 57 mm AA gun
SA-7  Soviet Union Man-portable SAM system ~200[13]
SA-8 Gecko  Soviet Union SAM system 24[13] Highly mobile short-range SAM system with 15 km range
SA-13 Gopher  Soviet Union SAM system 20 Short-range battlefield SAM system with 5 km range
S-300 (missile)  Soviet Union SAM system 10[13] Ten S-300 launchers, divided into two units with five launchers each.
2K12 Kub  Soviet Union SAM system 20[13] Mobile surface-to-air missile system is a Soviet low to medium-level air defense system designed to protect ground forces from air attack.
9K31 Strela-1  Soviet Union SAM system 0[13] phased out.
S-200 (missile)  Soviet Union SAM system 10[13]
S-125 Neva/Pechora  Soviet Union SAM system 32[13]
S-75 Dvina  Soviet Union SAM system 18[13] Strategic SAM system

Recently retired equipment

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  2. ^ Richard D. Jones; Leland S. Ness, eds. (27 January 2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009–2010 (35 ed.). Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  3. ^ Personal infantry weapons: old weapons or new hardware in the coming decades? – Free Online Library. Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved on 2014-04-20.
  4. ^ "Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis: IHS Jane's - IHS". Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  5. ^ "Arsenal's LMG Page, 7.62 x 39 mm". Arsenal. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  6. ^ "Arsenal's LMG Page, 5.56 x 45 mm". Arsenal. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  7. ^ "Arsenal's LMG Page, 5.45 x 39 mm". Arsenal. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  8. ^ "G3 Defence Magazine August 2010". calameo.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "12,7 mm Arsenal Multi-purpose Machine Gun MG-U". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ "RPG-22 NETTO". VMZ Sopot Official Website. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  11. ^ ATGL-L anti-tank grenade launcher Archived 2010-08-21 at the Wayback Machine, arsenal.bg
  12. ^ OPFOR Worldwide Equipment Guide, TRADOC DCSINT Threat Support Directorate, January 21, 1999
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "Bulgarian Defense Information". European Defense Information. Armed Forces.co.uk. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  14. ^ Армията се въоръжи и с газови пистолети Archived 2006-07-17 at the Wayback Machine, Segabg, 30 June 2006
  15. ^ Arsenal Corporation. "Arsenal 40 mm Underbarrel Grenade Launcher UBGL". Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ Arsenal Corporation. "Arsenal 40 mm Underbarrel Grenade Launcher UBGL-1". Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ a b "Bulgarian Military". Mediafire.com. 2013-11-17. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
  18. ^ [1][dead link]

External links

  • [2] or [3] The download link(s) to details of Bulgaria's military equipment, including the reserve as of 2013. Note: some of the reserve items are not listed on this page, such as the 430 T55's in reserve status.
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