Defence News

Bulgaria Begins Construction of NATO Base in Kabile to Strengthen Eastern Flank – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency

The construction of a NATO military base near the village of Kabile in Yambol Province has officially begun, following approval by the Bulgarian Council of Ministers. The project comes after the government signed a draft agreement with Italy for the joint construction and use of military facilities within the Kabile military district. The base is designed to host the multinational battle group Read more

By Chief Instructor, ago

VMZ-Sopot and Rheinmetall to Jointly Produce NATO 155 mm Shells in Bulgaria – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency

VMZ-Sopot, Bulgaria’s state-owned arms manufacturer, is set to partner with Rheinmetall, the largest defense company in Europe, for the joint production of NATO-standard 155 mm artillery shells on Bulgarian territory. The details are outlined in a recent government assignment, as reported by Bulgarian National Radio. The plan involves forming a consortium in which Bulgaria will contribute Read more

By Chief Instructor, ago

Bulgarian Troops Depart for NATO Mission in Kosovo – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency

A Bulgarian military contingent is departing to take part in NATO‘s Stabilization Force operation in Kosovo, it was announced during a formal ceremony held in Shumen on August 7. Deputy Chief of Defense Lieutenant General Mikhail Popov addressed the troops, reminding them of the dual responsibility they carry – representing Bulgaria to NATO allies and embodying NATO in Read more

By Chief Instructor, ago

Bulgaria’s First ‘Stryker’ Armored Vehicles Enter Production Ahead of 61st Brigade Deployment – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency

The production of Bulgaria’s first “Stryker” armored combat vehicles for the Land Forces is underway and progressing according to the planned timeline, Brigadier General Stoyan Shopov, Chief of Staff of the Land Forces, confirmed in an interview with the “Bulgarian Army” newspaper. The vehicles are expected to be transported to the TEREM plant by Read more

By Chief Instructor, ago

Bulgaria Taps Massive EU Loan to Supercharge Military Support for Ukraine – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency

Bulgaria has joined eight other European nations in formally applying for low-interest loans from the European Union to jointly purchase weapons. These arms will serve dual purposes: supporting Ukraine and upgrading the military capabilities of the participating countries themselves. The deadline for submitting applications to the EU’s new financing tool, SAFE (Security Action for Europe), ended yesterday. SAFE offers Read more

By Chief Instructor, ago

Russia Accuses Bulgaria of Arms Smuggling from Ukraine – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency

At a recent briefing, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Bulgaria, alongside Poland, Finland, and Romania, of taking part in the smuggling of Western weapons from Ukraine. She claimed this illicit trade is tightly controlled by organized crime groups, supported by corrupt officials. Zakharova detailed that weapons are trafficked out of Ukraine through multiple routes, involving Read more

By Chief Instructor, ago

NATO Praises Bulgaria’s Commitment, Backs Upgrade of Battle Group to Brigade Level – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency

Bulgaria remains firmly committed to NATO’s efforts to boost its collective defense capabilities, particularly in the Black Sea region. At a joint press conference held at the Novo Selo training area, Chief of Defense Admiral Emil Eftimov confirmed Bulgaria’s full support for the Alliance’s new goal of raising defense investment to 5% of GDP by 2035. According to Eftimov, Read more

By Chief Instructor, ago

Bulgaria Links Defense Modernization with Economic Stimulus – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency

Bulgaria is moving forward with plans to modernize its armed forces, with significant investments expected to benefit not only national defense but also the broader economy. According to Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov, the Ministries of Defense and Finance are in the final stages of analyzing the potential use of the European SAFE instrument as a financial mechanism for these Read more

By Chief Instructor, ago

Bulgaria’s Ministry of Defense Seeks Sappers and Operators

The Bulgarian Ministry of Defense has announced 32 open positions in a military formation located in Bankya, as part of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). The vacancies include roles such as sapper, medic, junior special operations operator, radio operator, unexploded ordnance disposal operator, and driver. Applicants must submit a written application to the commander of military formation Read more

By Chief Instructor, ago

Bulgaria Plans Mandatory Military Training, Stays Out of Croatia-Albania Alliance – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency

Bulgaria‘s Ministry of Defense is preparing legislative changes to introduce mandatory military training for specific professional groups. Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov explained in an interview with Bulgarian National Radio that the amendments to the Armed Forces Act and the Act on the Reserve aim to address the personnel shortage in the national army. However, he clarified Read more

By Chief Instructor, ago