Bulgaria has signed a contract for the sale of 500 MT-LB multirole tracked armoured vehicles to Iraq.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has negotiated a deal for the supply of 500 MT-LB armored vehicles to Iraq. Decision to sign the contract was made on May, 31, 2012 in the presence of Sadoun al-Dulaimi, Iraqi acting Minister of Defence at Hemus 2012 International Defense and Security exhibition.

A Bulgarian MT-LB multirole tracked armoured vehicle at Defence Exhibition HEMUS 2012

After the exhibition opening Borisov informed that the cost of the vehicles to be supplied to Iraq shall amount to around 300,000 levs per unit and total cost of the contract shall amount to 150 mln levs (appr. USD 77 mln). He also mentioned that MTLB APCs were produced at Terem plant in Tyrgovishte town and one MTLB will be sent to Iraq to undergo trials. Borisov also said that 36 mln euro deal for supply of special-purpose Kintex equipment from Bulgaria to Algeria will be completed soon. In addition he offered Liu Sheng, deputy Director of People's Liberation Army General Armaments Department to purchase ball ammunition. Borisov joked that one bullet for each Chinese soldier would be enough. Bulgarian prime-minister called on all countries present at the exhibition to purchase Bulgarian weapon systems, he underlined that they have never received any quality reclamation. Prime contractor for MTLB to Iraq will be Terem-Khan Krum tank repair plant, Tyrgovishte, Bulgaria. The plant is a part of Terem EAD association which is subordinated to Ministry of Defence of Bulgaria. The MT-LB is a Russian-made light multirole tracked armoured vehicle but it was produced under license in many countries. The vehicle was produced in Russia of late 1960's. The MT-LB can be used as artilery tractor or armoured personnel carrier but also for other tasks, there is more than 80 variants of the MT-LB. Source : http://www.armyrecognition.com