site.btaFirst Stryker Combat Vehicles to Arrive from US in February

The first Stryker combat vehicles will be transported from the US to Bulgaria in February, outgoing Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov said in Veliko Tarnovo (north central Bulgaria) on Tuesday.

He noted that they will be assembled at the Terem-Ivaylo EOOD plant here, which is ready to receive them. The outgoing Minister checked the plant and recalled that the outgoing Government invested over BGN 17 million for the preparation of this process. He emphasized that the most important buildings of the plant have been completely renovated, three new buildings have been built, and finishing works are in progress. In addition to construction activities, the personnel who will carry out the assembly are being prepared and trained.

A centre for service maintenance of radio stations and communication equipment will be opened at the plant as well, Zapryanov pointed out, adding that the internal communication systems of each machine will be checked there. The entire framework of the contract between the US and the Bulgarian Defense Ministry is worth over BGN 1.2 billion.

Regarding the preparation for the F-16 aircraft, Zapryanov commented that the first combat duty is expected at the end of 2027, after training and preparation of the pilots, whose number should be over 30 for the completed squadron in 2028.

Zapryanov pointed out that there are problems primarily related to financial security in the Bulgarian defense sector, recalling that a decision was made to increase the defense budget by 2035 to 3.5% for capabilities and 1.5% for infrastructure after the NATO summit in The Hague. "This plan must be prepared and adopted by the Bulgarian parliament. It can be implemented with guaranteed financial security, which requires political stability, with a functioning government and a functioning parliament," he stressed.

He pointed out that the leading priority for the Ministry remains the preparation of professional military forces and stressed that in the event of mobilization, people with military training should be recalled. Since 2007, Bulgaria does not have a mandatory military service. "Attempts are being made to solve this task with voluntary service in the reserve, with 200-300 people, which is insufficient," Zapryanov stressed, adding that the task of amending the respective laws will remain for the next Defense Minister.