site.bta3D Radars to Be Procured Jointly with other NATO Member States

Bulgaria's Council of Ministers on Tuesday adopted a decision terminating a procedure for the existence of an essential security interest which has to be protected in the cases under Item 2 of Article 149 (1) of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) upon the implementation of an investment project for the procurement of new 3D radars.

According to Item 2 of Article 149 (1) of the PPA, the Act does not apply to any procurements in the fields of defence and security whose award is related to the supply of information the disclosure of which is contrary to the essential security interests of Bulgaria.

The Government approved the initiation of a new procedure under Article 9 of the PPA for the award of a public procurement jointly with contracting entities from other NATO Member States.

The Bulgarian Defence Ministry is seeking to procure seven new 3D radars in package with five-year training and maintenance. The procurement is key for the entry into service of the F-16 jet fighters. The joint procurement model is recommended at the European level so as to save on economies of scale.

In 2024, the French company Thales was selected to supply the radars at some EUR 142 million. The contract was not concluded because one of the other bidders appealed the award.

Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said recently that the radars project will probably be the only major transaction to be concluded this year as 2025 defence spending approximates 2% of GDP.