site.btaBulgarian Navy Receives First New Ship in 100 Years

The Bulgarian Navy received a completely new ship on Monday for the first time in 100 years, Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said in Varna. He participated in a military ritual of the solemn raising of the naval flag of Bulgaria on the newly acquired multifunctional modular patrol ship Hrabri.

Zapryanov said that while a century ago, the vessel received by the Navy was built in France, Hrabri was made by the Bulgarian shipbuilding company MTG Delfin. He pointed out that with the implementation of this project Bulgaria has proven that it can build this class of vessel, and that allied countries have already expressed interest and may place orders for the construction of similar vessels. 

The minister noted that the ship is fully functional, has successfully passed the relevant tests and has already been enlisted in the Navy.

The implementation of projects for the modernization in the field of defence will continue, Zapryanov stressed, adding that work on the second new multi-purpose patrol ship for the fleet will definitely continue as well. However, he stated that financial resources have not yet been provided for the deepening of the area of ​​the Naval Base in Varna and noted that some of the projects that are being implemented with national funds will most likely be renegotiated.

Zapryanov also said that negotiations are underway with Belgium and the Netherlands for Bulgaria to acquire seven second-hand mine hunters. 

"Today is full of emotions, but starting tomorrow comes the enormous responsibility of the crew, who must actively participate in equipping Hrabri and mastering the new systems," Navy Vice Admiral Meli Eftimov stated. He emphasized that the ship is not an airplane,  and it requires people to learn and build a team. He pointed out that the new ship significantly increases the capabilities of the fleet, but also its responsibilities. The geopolitical importance of the Black Sea is growing, and the Bulgarian Army needs capabilities, Eftimov pointed out.

Rear Admiral Kiril Mihaylov noted that the Bulgarian Navy will now have a ship capable of taking on board a helicopter or unmanned aerial vehicles. "This is a huge step for military sailors and sets new tasks for them, as naval aviation pilots must master landing on the deck, use the combat capabilities of the ship and helicopters as a single system", he said.