Ukraine uses Bulgarian Tundzha 120mm self-propelled mortars for the first time against Russian Forces.

As reported by NMFTE on February 25, 2025, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have received an unknown number of Tundzha 120mm self-propelled mortars, possibly from Bulgaria, and have already used them on the front line against Russian forces. Ukraine had planned to purchase these self-propelled mortars several years before the full-scale invasion, but despite allocated state budget funds, the acquisition did not proceed.
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The Tundzha self-propelled mortar, based on the MT-LB tracked chassis, was developed in the early 1980s under the supervision of Bulgarian chief designer Georgy Ishmeriev. (Picture source: Telegram/NMFTE and Bulgarian MoD)

The Tundzha self-propelled mortar was developed in the early 1980s under the supervision of Bulgarian chief designer Georgy Ishmeriev. The vehicle is based on the MT-LB multi-purpose tracked chassis and was produced under license in Bulgaria. Initially, exports focused on Warsaw Pact countries, with subsequent deliveries to other international customers. The concept for a self-propelled mortar on the MT-LB chassis originated in the 1960s in the USSR under the Burevestnik Central Research Institute. Although similar designs were developed for the Soviet Ground Forces and Airborne Forces, the Soviet Union chose the 2S9 Nona-S self-propelled and air-droppable mortar, leading to the Tundzha design being adopted only outside the USSR.

The Tundzha is armed with a 120-mm regimental mortar model M-120 from 1955. The system has a firing range between 0.48 and 7.1 kilometers. The vehicle carries an ammunition load of up to 80 mortar rounds and features a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun with 2,000 rounds, providing the system with sustained fire capability in combat situations. The mortar is mounted in a special cradle with anti-recoil devices and can be fired directly from the vehicle without dismounting. The vehicle's design allows the mortar to be removed for ground firing, with a standard bipod and support plate carried onboard. The mortar's sighting system is the MPM-44.

The standard ammunition types include high-explosive fragmentation (HF) mines with a steel-plated cast iron body, high-explosive mines with a steel body, illuminating mines for battlefield visibility, smoke mines for obscuring enemy observation posts and firepower, and incendiary mines for creating fires. Each mortar round, referred to as a mortar shot, comprises a mine, a fuse, a main charge, and up to six additional charges. The fuses available for the Tundzha include a frontal type, which detonates on direct impact; a radio (radar) fuse, which ensures the mine explodes at a height of 1 to 15 meters above the ground; a delay type, which allows the mine to penetrate structures or shelters before detonation; and a specific fuse for illumination mines that triggers at a predetermined altitude. The mortar system supports the use of the OF 843A mine with a minimum range of 450 meters and the OF 843B mine with a maximum range of 5,810 meters. The maximum velocity of the mines reaches approximately 264 meters per second. The rate of fire with adjustments is 5-6 shots per minute, while rapid fire can achieve up to 15 shots per minute.

The MT-LB chassis of the Tundzha is powered by a YaMZ-238N diesel engine delivering 240 horsepower. The vehicle's maximum road speed is 60 km/h, and it can maintain a speed of 6 km/h while afloat. It has a highway range of up to 500 kilometers. The tracked chassis features a torsion bar suspension with hydraulic shock absorbers and provides a ground pressure of 0.455 kg/cm². The armor offers bulletproof protection, with thicknesses of 14 mm at the front and 7 mm on the top, sides, and rear. The vehicle is amphibious and has a gradability of 35 degrees, a ground clearance of 0.4 meters, and can cross a 0.7-meter wall and a 2.8-meter trench.

In 2020, Ukraine considered acquiring Bulgarian Tundzha self-propelled mortars to equip the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This plan was reported citing former Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Viktor Muzhenko. While the country of origin and the exact number of mortars intended for purchase were not disclosed, funds were allocated through the state budget. However, the acquisition did not proceed, and the allocated funds were subsequently returned to the budget. According to Muzhenko, this included funds from the planned purchase of the Tundzha self-propelled mortars. Despite the cancellation of the initial procurement, the deployment of the Tundzha mortars in Ukraine in 2025 indicates that they may have been acquired through alternative means, as not only.

The total production run of the Tundzha and its variants, including the Tundzha-Sani with the improved 2B11 120mm mortar, is reported to be not less than 303 units. Bulgaria remained the primary user with 215 units in service as of 2016. The German Democratic Republic, Syria, Latvia, Poland, Afghanistan, and the Ivory Coast have also operated the system. Syria received 210 units from Bulgaria in 1992, while Afghanistan acquired 16 units from Russia in 2001. Poland obtained 16 units from the USSR in 1987, and Latvia purchased 20 units from Bulgaria in 1999, and one of these two countries may have transferred its remaining units to Ukraine. The GDR acquired 75 units from the USSR between 1988 and 1990, and the Ivory Coast received 10 units from Belarus in 2002.

According to Colonel (Ret.) Zdravko Hristov, Iran also expressed interest in purchasing 20 Tundzha self-propelled mortars from Bulgaria. During a demonstration at the Tyulbeto army training ground near Kazanlak, Iranian representatives did not negotiate on price and even offered five times the standard price per unit. However, Bulgaria only had two prototype units available at the time, which prevented the deal from proceeding. The Tundzha mortars were being tested for their rate of fire, demonstrating how many shots they could deliver within a short period. Ultimately, the mortars entered service with the Bulgarian Army, with production taken over by the Beta plant in Cherven Bryag.