Iraq receives ex-Bulgarian T-72s and BMP-1s
Iraq has received a shipment of ex-Bulgarian armoured vehicles. (Photo: Iraqi MoD)
Ex-Bulgarian armoured vehicles were reportedly ordered by Iraq in June 2021 under a $245 million contract for Apolo Engineering.
The Iraq MoD announced on 14 February that a batch of surplus T-72 tanks and BMP-1 APCs from Bulgaria has arrived in the country.
The vehicles will equip the Iraqi Army to strengthen its counter-terrorism capabilities.
According to Shephard Defence Insight, the surplus vehicles were reportedly ordered under a $245 million contract awarded to Apolo Engineering in June 2021.
The Iraqi Army is believed to have at least 137 T-72s in service. At least one of these belonging to the paramilitary Popular Mobilization Forces (PMU) and has received an upgrade similar to the T-72M upgrade package developed by the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The Iraqi T-72M consists of adding additional armour to the front of the turret and front and sides of the hull.
In the case of the BMP-1, since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003, the Iraqi Army has received surplus vehicles from several sources, including the Czech Republic, Greece and Ukraine apart from Bulgaria.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Land Warfare
-
![US Marine Corps to expand on-the-move power capabilities with MRZR Alpha 5kW]()
US Marine Corps to expand on-the-move power capabilities with MRZR Alpha 5kW
The MRZR Alpha 5kW has been designed to charge multiple battlefield systems, including active defence systems, sensor arrays, onboard electronics, UAS and CUAS equipment, and other C5ISR capabilities. The platform can also power external loads such as a forward-operating tactical grid.
-
![All of NATO’s innovation ranges may be operational this year]()
All of NATO’s innovation ranges may be operational this year
The innovation ranges are designed to provide testing and validation across high technology areas and are a key part of NATO’s Rapid Adoption Action Plan to get new technologies into service faster.
-
![Latvian drone interceptor units to enter service “within weeks”]()
Latvian drone interceptor units to enter service “within weeks”
Latvia is one of the countries at the forefront of developing a counter uncrewed aerial system capability, drawing on its own industry to meet a geographical and geo-political circumstance that has seen drone incursions rise.
-
![British Army turns to local option for small robot trials]()
British Army turns to local option for small robot trials
The UK government has ordered XRC’s small Rhino UGV for trials just weeks after placing a contract for ARX Robotics Gereon tracked UGV which will also be manufactured in the UK. The latest move is another step in creating a force of 40% uncrewed systems.
-
![SOF Week 2026: The Gear Keeping Warfighters Ready in Extreme Climates (Video)]()
SOF Week 2026: The Gear Keeping Warfighters Ready in Extreme Climates (Video)
At SOF Week 2026, Pro-Shot Defense discusses the maintenance technologies and weapon support tools designed to keep special operations forces mission ready in the world’s harshest environments.
