site.btaDefence Minister: Introduction of NATO-Standard Weapons in Bulgarian Army Is Underway

The introduction of new NATO-standard weapons into the Bulgarian Army is currently underway, outgoing Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said in response to a question from MP of Vazrazhdane Dimcho Dimchev. The response was published on Parliament's website Monday.

Dimchev asked whether the Ministry of Defence plans to replace the main small arms used by military personnel, which currently utilize Soviet-standard ammunition.

The complete replacement of all firearms in service with new ones requires significant financial resources, which, unfortunately, Bulgaria cannot provide at once, the Minister noted. To this end, it was necessary to stagger the deliveries of the new systems over time, which reduced the financial pressure while still allowing for the complete replacement of the old systems with new ones that meet NATO standards, Zapryanov explained.

After an analysis by the Defence Staff, the need for new weapons was prioritized, with priority given to the Army, Special Operations Forces, and Military Police Service. As a result, new weapon systems were adopted in these structures, with the existing Russian systems being replaced with new ones that are NATO-compliant in terms of caliber, Zapryanov said.

He also said that the process of complete transition to calibers in accordance with NATO standards is irreversible and is currently underway, with the time frame for its full implementation depending entirely on the financial resources allocated. Zapryanov gave the example of the upcoming introduction of the new Stryker armoured combat vehicle in the Army, where the armament is fully compliant with NATO standards.

The first five Stryker combat vehicles and auxiliary equipment will be delivered by the end of February, the Ministry of Defence said earlier this month.