site.btaOutgoing Government Approves International Agreements in Defence Sector

The outgoing Council of Ministers approved Wednesday an international agreement (Letter of Offer and Acceptance - LOA) BU-P-AAL, “Acquisition of a Naval Strike Missile (NSM) Coastal Defence System (CDS) and related equipment, spare parts, training and associated support,” and an international agreement (Letter of Offer and Acceptance - LOA) BU-P-LBR, “Multifunctional Information Distribution System - Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) and related support and equipment,” under the US Foreign Military Sales programme. With the adopted decision, the Council of Ministers proposes that the National Assembly ratify the agreements by law.

The BU-P-AAL and BU-P-LBR agreements were drafted in connection with the implementation of the Ministry of Defence’s priority project “Acquisition of Coastal Anti-Ship Missile Systems” for the Bulgarian Navy. The implementation of this project will ensure technological modernization and the development of capabilities related to safeguarding the country’s maritime sovereignty, providing a national contribution to the Alliance, supporting NATO’s tailored forward presence in the Black Sea, enhancing security measures and participation with combat-ready formations in NATO initiatives, as well as ending critical dependence in armaments.

By another decision, the Council of Ministers approved, subject to subsequent ratification, a Sales Agreement between the Ministry of Defence of Bulgaria and the Netherlands for the purchase of the Tripartite-class minehunters Zierikzee, Willemstad and Schiedam.

The scope of the agreement includes the acquisition of three minehunter vessels equipped with modern systems for the detection, identification and neutralisation of mines and mine-like objects. The minehunters are NATO-standard operational vessels currently in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy.

The agreement does not contain direct financial commitments for the Bulgarian side for the acquisition of the vessels.

The outgoing government also approved, subject to subsequent ratification, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Defence of Bulgaria, the Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Belgium and the Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of the Netherlands regarding the transfer of Tripartite-class minehunters - of the Flower class and Alkmaar class - currently operational with the Royal Belgian Navy and the Royal Netherlands Navy, including crew training facilities, spare parts and additional equipment.

The draft Memorandum provides for the acquisition of seven minehunter vessels as a donation from the Kingdom of Belgium and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The vessels are equipped with modern systems for the detection, classification, identification and neutralization of mines and mine-like objects, are operational in accordance with NATO standards and are currently in service with the Belgian and Dutch navies.

Under the draft Memorandum, Bulgaria’s commitment consists of covering the costs of repair and restoration works on the seven vessels to meet operational readiness standards, as well as providing training for Ukrainian minehunter crews.