site.btaParliament Approves Investment Project for Procurement of Seven New 3D Radars

The Parliament approved on Wednesday a proposal submitted by the Council of Ministers for an investment expenditure to acquire seven new 3D radars and auxiliary equipment. 186 voted in favour, three against, and no abstentions.

The project is valued at up to EUR 195 million and is based on a draft contract under a framework agreement signed between Bulgaria's Ministry of Defence and France's Ministry of Armed Forces in June 2025.

The acquisition of new 3D radars is listed as a key priority in Bulgaria's Armed Forces Development Plan up to 2026 and in the Defence Capability Development Programme up to 2032. The goal is to improve airspace surveillance capabilities using ground-based active radar systems, ensure Bulgaria's air sovereignty, and fulfill NATO allied commitments.

Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov explained that the process involves two contracts: one between Bulgaria and the French Defence Ministry, and another between Bulgaria's Defence Ministry and the company Thales. He noted that parliamentary approval is required before the contracts are signed and subsequently ratified.

MP Bogdan Bogdanov from Continue the Change said that Bulgaria has been able to modernize part of its military equipment partly due to support programmes related to Ukraine. The Defence Minister rejected this, saying military modernization is financed from the national budget, not Ukrainian funds.

Ivelin Parvanov from Vazrazhdane opposed the project, arguing that Bulgaria should prioritize domestic defence production and that Bulgarian companies are not being included in procurement procedures.

The Minister responded that the radars are being purchased through the European SAFE mechanism and that Bulgarian companies could participate if they had relevant agreements with the government, which currently do not exist.

Atanas Slavov from Democratic Bulgaria supported the decision, despite noting delays and increased costs. He emphasized that the capability is essential for operating the new F-16 Block 70 aircraft and for fulfilling collective defence obligations within NATO and the EU.

Georg Georgiev from GERB-UDF also supported the decision, calling it a necessary step that completes a long procurement cycle.