Bulgarian land forces

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Bulgarian Land Forces Training Operation.
Bulgarian Land Forces Training Operation.
Bulgarian BMP-23 in Iraq.
Bulgarian BMP-23 in Iraq.
Bulgarian T-72 Tank at a parade in Sofia.
Bulgarian T-72 Tank at a parade in Sofia.
Bulgarian BRDM-2.
Bulgarian BRDM-2.

The Bulgarian Land Forces are one of the service branches of the Bulgarian Army. Their existence is to be traced back to the establishment of the First Bulgarian Empire in 681. In more recent history the Land Forces have played an active role in the Bulgarian participation in the Balkan Wars,World War I and World War II. The Bulgarian Land Forces are scheduled to become fully professional by 1st of January 2008, bringing an end to mandatory military service. The Bulgarian Air Force and Naval Forces are already fully professional.

Contents

[edit] Functions

The Land Forces are functionally divided into Active and Reserve Forces. Their main functions include deterrence, defense, peace support and crisis management, humanitarian and rescue missions, as well as social functions within Bulgarian society.

The Active Forces mainly have peacekeeping and defensive duties, and are further divided into Deployment Forces, Immediate Reaction, and Main Defense Forces. The Reserve Forces consists of Enhancement Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, and Training Grounds. They deal with planning and reservist preparation, armaments and equipment storage, training of formations for active forces rotation or increase in personnel.

During peacetime the Land Forces maintain permanent combat and mobilization readiness. They become part of multinational military formations in compliance with international treaties Bulgaria is a Party of, participate in the preparation of the population, the national economy and the maintenance of wartime reserves and the infrastructure of the country for defense.

In times of crisis the Land Forces' main tasks relate to participation in operations countering terrorist activities and defense of strategic facilities (such as nuclear power plants and major industrial facilities), assisting the security forces in proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, illegal armaments traffic and international terrorism.

In case of low- and medium-intensity military conflict the Active Forces that are part of the Land Forces participate in carrying out the initial tasks for the defense of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country.

In case of a military conflict of high intensity the Land Forces, together with the Air Force and the Navy, form the defense group of the Bulgarian Army aiming at countering aggression and protection of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country.

[edit] Structure

The Land Forces in peacetime are an HQ, Operational Forces Command, two Commands (East and West), Special Operations Forces Command and directly subordinate to the HQ units and formations.

  • Operational Forces Command comprises mechanized, light infantry and armored brigades; an artillery brigade, logistics brigade and combat support units.
  • West and East Commands comprise mobilization bases, centers and training ranges.In wartime the mobilization bases and centers deploy mechanized and artillery brigades and regiments.
  • Special Operations Forces Command comprises special operations brigade, paratrooper intelligence regiment and psychological operations battalion.

[edit] History

[edit] Land Forces Commanders

  • 2006 - Incumbent : Major General Ivan Kirev Dobrev

[edit] See also

  • SOBT - Bulgarian special forces - Although not part of the Armed Forces the operators of that Ministry of Interior unit have enhanced close quarters combat, firing, driving (including APCs), parachute skills. The primary Counter-Terror asset of the Republic of Bulgaria, the unit is directly subordinated to the minister. Operatives are called unofficially "The Berets" because of their specific caps - berets. Unit is supported by the special forces of the Gendarmery National Service.

[edit] Inventory

Infantry weapons:

  • automatic weapons : AR-M1- Bulgarian made 7.62mm assault rifle, built off AK-74 platform
  • 200 antitank missiles AT-3, AT-4, AT-5

Tanks:

  • approx. 430 T-72 of which 100 second hand from former USSR (number to be reduced to 180 units) [1]

Armored vehicles:

  • 1450 total armoured combat vehicles (UN register -- 2006) unknown specifics
  • undisclosed number of BRDM-2, some of them ATGM-armed BRDM-3
  • undisclosed number of BMP-1 of which about 100 units second hand from former USSR
  • about 80 BMP-23 (indigenious design cobining MT-LB chassis and BMP-2-turret)
  • 618 BTR-60
  • 900 MT-LB
  • 7 M1117 for the Bulgarian mission in Afganistan
  • future wheeled IFV/ APC

Artillery:

  • 218 multiple-launch rocket system BM-21 -- 122 mm
  • 205 cannons D-20 -- 152 mm
  • 193 cannons M-30 -- 122 mm
  • 687 self-propelled howitzers 2S1 Gvozdika -- 122 mm
  • 68 self-propelled howitzers SU-100 -- 100 mm
  • 359 self-propelled guns 2S11 -- 120 mm

Tactical ballistic missiles

[edit] Sources

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