site.btaMultinational Naval Group Destroys Drifting Drone off Bulgarian Coast

The Black Sea Mine Countermeasures Naval Group (MCM Black Sea) destroyed a drifting drone in the Black Sea after it was spotted 21 nautical miles off the Bulgarian coastal town of Ahtopol, the Bulgarian Defence Ministry reported on Tuesday.

The unmanned aerial vehicle was detected after the ships of MCM Black Sea departed the Port of Burgas earlier in the day. The commander of the tactical group tasked the Turkish Navy minehunter TCG Akcay with investigating the object. The ship's diving team found that the drifting drone had a broken wing. An underwater inspection found no munitions attached to its fuselage.

As the possibility that explosive ordnance might be contained inside the fuselage could not be ruled out, the group commander decided to secure the area. He instructed the other vessels in the group – the Bulgarian Navy minehunter Struma and the Romanian Navy minehunter Dumitrescu – to patrol the area and divert passing ships.

A navigational warning was issued to vessels operating in the area.

After receiving a report at the shore headquarters, the MCM Black Sea commander, Captain (N) Petar Dimitrov, authorized the destruction of the object. The drone was destroyed by a team of divers from the ship ROS Captain 1st Rank Dimitar Dobrev 206.

The successful completion of the mission under real operational conditions was made possible by the excellent training of the MCM Black Sea crews, which completed their integration following the group's activation during the Bulgarian Naval Exercise Breeze, the Defence Ministry said.

The MCM Black Sea ships continue to conduct joint operations at sea. During their patrols, they maintain continuous surveillance for objects that could pose a hazard to navigation. Since its activation on July 10, the group has come under Bulgarian command for the second time since its establishment.

On June 26, the Bulgarian Navy destroyed a drifting drone off Kranevo.