Greece trials ZU-23-2 armed BMP-1P infantry fighting vehicle

Theodore L Valmas, Athens - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
11 December 2014



The Hellenic Army has been conducting trials with BMP-1P IFVs fitted with a twin ZU-23-2 23 mm gun mount. Source: Hellenic Army
The Hellenic Army has conducted its first firing trials of BMP-1P infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) fitted with a twin ZU-23-2 23 mm gun mount.

The Hellenic Army received 350 BMP-1P IFVs from the former inventories of the East German Army's inventory, following Germany's reunification, along with and 500 towed ZU-23-2 23 mm twin gun mounts.

The logic behind combining these two old but reliable and low maintenance systems has been to create a new mobile and effective capability against lightly armoured ground targets, as well as landing craft and low-flying helicopters.

The 308 Army Depot studied and implemented the installation of the ZU-23-2 gun mount on the BMP-1 as well as on the M113 vehicle for this pilot programme.

The trials took place under the auspices of the 96th National Guard Higher Command, on the island of Chios, and were billed as entirely successful.

Following the success of the trials, more Greek BMP-1Ps are expected to be converted to mount the ZU-23-2.

IHS Janes