This is a list of the equipment currently in use by the Bulgarian Armed Forces. The list encompasses equipment from the Joint Forces Command, Land Forces, Joint Special Operations Command, , Logistics Support Command and the structures directly subordinate to the Minister of Defence.
Personal equipment Bayonets ModelImageOriginTypeNotes6H2BayonetProduced locally. Used on AK-47 rifles for ceremonial purposes.M1895 bayonetBayonetExact model of the bayonet is uncertain. Used on Mannlicher M1895 carabines for ceremonial purposes only.
Camouflage ModelImageOriginTypeVariantNotesBulgarian Land Forces camouflageDigital Flecktarn-like patternFor temperate climateReplaced the old M2003 DPM camouflage. Adopted by the Bulgarian Land Forces around 2018, hence some refer to it as M18. Oddly enough in 2011, years before the Bulgarian pattern was first shown to the public, a Russian camouflage pattern with unknown origin was seen with the 45th Separate Guards Special Purpose Regiment which looks very similar if not almost identical.Splinter pattern camouflageThis pattern originates from the German WWII Splittertarnmuster camouflage pattern. It was succeeded by the M2003 DPM pattern across the armed forces but remains common among tank crews. Tank crews appear to be slowly transitioning to the current M18 camouflage pattern but could still be seen wearing this pattern during the "Balkan Sentinel 25" military exercise.Digital Tropentarn-like patternFor desert climateThe pattern is very reminiscent of Tropentarn. The pattern was first seen around 2016 and around 2017 it was seen in use with the 32nd Bulgarian Contingent in Afghanistan. Bulgarian Military Police camouflageDisruptive Pattern MaterialFor temperate climateIt is likely that this pattern is the same as the Land Forces' retired M2003 DPM camouflage.Strengthening Alliances- Joint Force Protection and Active Shooter Training with Bulgarian and U S Military Police (8663879).jpg Aside from the Military Police, DPM has practically been fully replaced in all branches of the Armed Forces. MultiCam MultiCamThe camouflage pattern is sometimes seen in use with the Bulgarian Special Forces of the Joint Special Operations Command. Occasionally seen with the Military Police as well.Bulgarian Air Force CamouflageUniversal Camouflage PatternThe pattern was first seen around 2018. As of 2025 the Air Force has been increasingly seen with M18 camouflage instead.
Gas masks ModelImageOriginTypeFilter threadNotesPF-90Gas mask40mm STANAG & 40mm GOSTBulgarian-made gas mask with the unique feature of having both GOST and STANAG 40mm filter canister threads.OM-90Gas mask40mm STANAGCzech gas mask, allegedly meant to replace the PF-90.PMK-2Gas mask40mm GOSTNot very common.PDE-1Gas masknone (internal cheek filters are used) Locally designated as "ПДЕ" (also referred to as "ПЛДЕ" or "П-1"). Copy of the Czechoslovak M10 gas mask (itself an unlicensed copy of the US M17 gas mask). Used in training.PMGGas mask40mm GOSTSoviet gas mask, produced under license in Bulgaria. Used in training.
Ballistic protection
Helmets ModelImageOriginTypeNotesМВН-ACH-BTSCombat helmetProduced by MARS Armor. In service with the Land Forces. Should replace the remaining old helmets including the M72.Ops Core FASTCombat helmetIn use by the Joint Special Operations Command.
Body armor ModelImageOriginTypeNotesModel 78-10Bulletproof vestProduced by MARS Armor. In service with the Land Forces
Bomb suits ModelImageOriginTypeDetailsSPS 10Bomb suitManufactured by Garant Protection. Used by the Bulgarian Land Forces for explosive ordinance disposal.EOD-9Bomb suitManufactured by Med-Eng. Used by the Bulgarian Land Forces for explosive ordinance disposal.
Night vision equipment ModelImageOriginTypeNotesDIANA M40Monocular Night-vision deviceProduced by . In service with the Special Forces and the Land Forces.AN/PVS-14Monocular Night-vision deviceIn service with the Joint Special Operations Command.DIANA ABinocular Night-vision deviceProduced by . Used by helicopter pilots in the Air Force.DIANA TT Binocular Night-vision deviceProduced by . In service with the Land Forces.
Firearms Handguns ModelImageOriginTypeCalibreNotes Makarov Semi-automatic pistol 9×18mm Local production and standard issue to the Armed Forces. Soviet-made units are also in service. The earliest known locally produced examples date back to 1975. Can be recognised through "((10))" arsenal markings, straight hammer serrations, slim star grip shells.Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). . The Armed Forces are going to replace the Makarov pistol in the near future.The successor has to be chambered in 9x19mm. Sig Sauer SP2022 Semi-automatic pistol 9×19mm Parabellum Used by Bulgarian Military Police, parts of the Land Forces and the Joint Special Operations Command.SIG Sauer P226Semi-automatic pistol9×19mm ParabellumUsed by Military Police. Some are used with conversion kits, turning them into a fixed-stock weapon system.
Assault rifles ModelImageOriginTypeCalibreNotes AK-47 Assault rifle 7.62×39mm Standard issue infantry rifle of the Armed Forces. Produced locally and modernised by Arsenal AD. Currently undergoing a modernization which is expected to be completed by 2025. The modernized rifles are designated as ''AK-47PT1''. AR-M1Assault rifle7.62×39mmThe rifle isn't a standard issue weapon of the Armed Forces, but it is occasionally seen in training or on parades. Potentially used as a small-scale replacement for older worn-out AK-47 rifles. Produced locally by Arsenal AD. Some examples have been seen in service with the Special forces. AR-M4SF Assault rifle 7.62×39mm Carbine rifles produced by Arsenal JSCo and used by the Joint Special Operations Command and the Bulgarian Military Police. Variants of the AR-M1 rifle. Limited usage. To be replaced with a 5.56×45mm NATO rifle soon. AKM Assault rifle 7.62×39mm Modernised variants in use by the Joint Special Operations Command (formerly known as the 68th Special Forces Brigade). Occasionally seen on shooting competitions and during training. Not produced locally. To be replaced with a 5.56×45mm NATO rifle soon.
Carabines ModelImageOriginTypeCalibreNotesSKSSemi-automatic rifle7.62×39mmUsed by the National Guards Unit for ceremonial purposes only.Mannlicher M1895Straight pull bolt-action rifle8×56mmRUsed by the Vasil Levski National Military University and for ceremonial purposes.
Submachine guns ModelImageOriginTypeCalibreNotes Heckler & Koch MP5 / MP5SD3 /
MP5K Submachine gun 9×19mm Parabellum Used by Bulgarian Special Forces ( MP5, MP5SD3 and MP5K) and Military Police (MP5K).
Shotguns ModelImageOriginTypeCalibreNotes Benelli M4 Super 90 Semi-automatic combat shotgun 12 Gauge Used by the Joint Special Operations Command and Military Police.Benelli M3A1 Pump action shotgun12 GaugeUsed by the Joint Special Operations Command.
Sniper rifles ModelImageOriginTypeCalibreNotes Heckler & Koch MSG90A1 Semi-automatic designated marksman rifle 7.62×51mm NATO Standard of the Bulgarian Land Forces alongside the Dragunov. Also used by the Special Forces. Heckler & Koch PSG1A1 Semi-automatic designated marksman rifle 7.62×51mm NATO PSG-1A1 in use with the Military Police.Sako TRG M10Bolt action sniper rifle7.62×51mm NATO 8.6×70mm (.338 LM)Used by the Joint Special Operations Command. Blaser R93 Tactical 2 Bolt action sniper rifle 8.6×70mm (.338 LM)Used by the Joint Special Operations Command. Ritter & Stark SX-1 Bolt action sniper rifle 7.62×51mm NATO 8.6×70mm (.338 LM) Used by the Bulgarian Military Police. SVD Semi-automatic designated marksman rifle 7.62×54mmR Used by the Bulgarian Land Forces in the 101st Alpine RegimentMosin M91/30 PUBolt action sniper rifle7.62×54mmROccasionally seen in use by the 101st Alpine Regiment. Limited usage.Zastava M91Bolt action sniper rifle7.62×54mmRUsed In the Land Forces alongside the Dragunov SVD. Limited usage.
Machine guns ModelImageOriginTypeCalibreNotes PK/PKM General-purpose machine gun 7.62×54mmR Used by Special Forces and regular units. Produced locally.FN MAGGeneral-purpose machine gun7.62×51mm NATOUsed by the Bulgarian Military Police and Special Forces. Mounted on both remotely and manually operated turrets on the Plasan SandCat and IAG Guardian Xtreme 4×4. NSV Heavy machine gun 12.7×108mm Standard issue heavy machine gun of the Bulgarian Army and produced by Arsenal. Usually mounted on T-72. Can also be mounted on Mercedes-Benz G270 CDI FB6.DShKHeavy machine gun12.7×108mmCurrently only used by the Naval Forces on some of their ships.M2 BrowningHeavy machine gun12.7×99mm NATO (.50 BMG)Used on the M1117 and to be used on the Stryker vehicles.1227 M2 QCB variants produced by Canik arms, delivered by Turkey.
Non-lethal weapons ModelImageOriginTypeCalibreNotes FN 303 Semi-automatic less-lethal riot gun 17.3 mm (0.68 in) Used by the Land Forces and the Military Police during the country's participation in MNF–I.Армията се въоръжи и с газови пистолети , Segabg, 30 June 2006 Unknown current status.
Flamethrowers ModelImageOriginTypeNotes LPO-50 Light flamethrower Unknown numbers in service. The weapon is seemingly rare and isn't shown often. In February 2025, during the BULWARK-25 military exercise, the 3rd Brigade Command shared images of Bulgarian servicemen armed with the flamethrower.
Grenade launchers ModelImageOriginTypeCalibreNotes Mk 19 grenade launcher Automatic grenade launcher 40 mm grenade Used on the M1117. GP-25 Grenade launcher 40mm caseless grenade Produced locally by Arsenal AD as the UBGL and the UBGL-1.
Anti-tank weapons ModelImageOriginTypeCalibreNotes SPG-9 Recoilless gun 73 mm (2.87 in) smoothboreOPFOR Worldwide Equipment Guide, TRADOC DCSINT Threat Support Directorate, January 21, 1999 Produced locally as SPG-9DNM. RPG-22 Rocket-propelled grenade High-explosive anti-tank with penetration of 400 mm versus RHA Produced locally at VMZ Sopot. In service with the Special Forces. RPG-7 Rocket-propelled grenade 40 mm RPG-7V variant produced locally by ARSENAL JSCo. In service with Special Forces and the regular Land Force units.FGM-148 JavelinAnti-tank guided missile127 mm107 Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units [LWCLU] and 218 Javelin FGM-148F missiles on order for the Strykers.9K114 ShturmAnti-tank guided missileHigh-explosive anti-tank shaped chargeUsed with the Bulgarian Air Force's Mi-24 helicopters.9M113 KonkursAnti-tank guided missile9N131 high-explosive anti-tank9K111 FagotAnti-tank guided missileHigh-explosive anti-tank warheadProduced locally.
Air defense systems Man portable air defense ModelImageOriginTypeWaNotes 9K34 Strela-3 Man-portable air-defense system 1.17 kg directed-energy blast fragmentation warhead, 390 g HE content Assembled locally. In service with the Navy and Special Forces. Recently used during military exercises in 2024. 9K32 Strela-2M Man-portable air-defense system 1.15 kg directed-energy blast fragmentation warhead (Strela-2M), 370 g HE content Assembled locally and in reserve. Recently used during military exercises in 2024.
Mobile air defence systems NamePhotoOriginTypeIn serviceNotes ZU-23-2 Anti-aircraft gun N/A Most ZU-23-2s in Bulgarian service are mounted on ZIL-131 trucks. Operated by the Land Forces. 9K33M3 Osa-AKM (SA-8B Gecko Mod-1) 6×6 amphibious surface-to-air missile system 24 Highly mobile short-range surface-to-air missile system with 15 km range. In service with the Land Forces.S-125M Neva-M (SA-3B Goa) Short-range air defense systemN/AOperated by the Air Force. Still in use and partaking in military live firing.S-75M Volkhov (SA-2C Guideline) Medium-range air defense systemN/AIn service with the Air Force as a target for air defense exercises. Live firing tests were held again after a 10-year gap in 2021.2K12 Kub