The Bulgarian BRM-23 reconnaissance vehicle is a further development of the BMP-23 infantry combat vehicle.

The vehicle has been designed to cany out battlefield reconnaissance up to 100 km ahead of the main force. The hull and turret are very similar to the BMP-23 infantry combat vehicle but it has a reduced number of firing ports (two on the right side of the hull and one on the left).

Its five-man crew consists of commander, gunner, navigator, radio operator and driver. Of these, two are at the front of the vehicle, two in the turret and one at the rear of the hull on the iett side.

The BRM-23 reconnaissance vehicle carries a wide range of specialised equipment to enable it to carry out its mission, including:

(1) LBD-1 hand-held laser range-finder with a maximum range of 9,000 m and an accuracy of ±5 m. If required, the device can also be mounted on a tripod

(2) PGN-9M hand-held passive night observation device which can also be mounted on a tripod

(3) Land navigation system

(4) Orientation equipment consisting of a periscopic vision device model PV-1

(5) PAB-2A artillery aiming circle

(6) RM-130M HF radio with the antenna-type frame in the vertical position at the rear. The radio has a range of up to 120 km and is used to communicate with higher elements in the command chain

(7) R-123M VHF radio with a maximum range of 20 km for vehicle to vehicle communications

(8) R-31M radio which is used for communications between the dismounted members of the vehicle and the vehicle itself

(9) MT-66 man-portable mine detector

(10) VPHR and DP-5V radiation and chemical detectors.

The armament of the BMP-23 is retained in the BRM-23 reconnaissance version. This consists of a 23 mm 2A14 cannon (as used in the ZSU-23-2 light anti-aircraft gun system), 7.62 mm PKT machine gun and launcher for AT-3 'Sagger' wire-guided ATGW.

The MT-LB multirole armoured vehicle and the 122 mm 2S1 self-propelled artillery system were built in Bulgaria by the Beta company. This company could

also be involved in the BRM-23 reconnaissance vehicle

programme.

Production as required. In service with the Bulgarian Army. There are no known export sales of the BRM-23 reconnaissance vehicle.