Military Experts Discuss Drone and Robotic Systems at International Conference in Sofia

Tatiana Marinova, Nikolay Trifonov

Participants in the international conference on unmanned aerial and robotic systems and countermeasures at the Georgi S. Rakovski Military Academy, Sofia, April 28, 2026 (BTA Photo/Nikola Uzunov)

Sofia,

28.04.2026 12:59

(BTA)

Military experts discussed unmanned aerial and robotic systems, as well as countermeasures against them, at an international conference held at the Georgi S. Rakovski Military Academy on Tuesday. The event was jointly organized by the Land Forces Command and the Bulgarian Land Forces Association.

The forum was opened by Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov, who said that the war in Ukraine had confirmed the crucial role of the defence industry for success on the battlefield. Warfare is conducted not only by the armed forces but by the entire State through the mobilization of the technological sector, the scientific community and the defence industry, he said, adding that the human factor continues to play a key role in achieving the desired effects in military operations.

Deputy Defence Minister Zlatin Krastev said that Ukraine pushed the Russian Black Sea Fleet into the eastern Black Sea by using maritime drones. He recalled that in 2023 Russia had declared several temporary warning zones in the Black Sea, including parts of Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone.

Bulgarian Land Forces Association Chair Plamen Atanasov said that unmanned aerial vehicles have become one of the main tools for both reconnaissance and strikes. He noted that in just a few years there has been a significant leap in the development of these systems, as well as countermeasures against them.

Land Forces Commander Major-General Deyan Deshkov said that the nature of modern operations requires increasingly adaptable structures and a comprehensive transformation of armed forces capabilities. Experience from ongoing military conflicts confirms the critical role of autonomous robotic systems, he added, noting that their integration is no longer a tactical innovation but a strategic necessity.

Deputy Commander of the Joint Forces Command, Rear Admiral Galin Manev, said that the ongoing war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East clearly outline trends in the use of various unmanned systems, coordinated by artificial intelligence. He added that the security environment requires the development of a high-tech integrated air and missile defence network, as well as systems for countering unmanned aerial vehicles.

Brigadier General Dimitar Georgiev from the Air Force said unmanned aerial systems are complex platforms for reconnaissance, surveillance and strike missions, providing significant contributions to intelligence gathering and situational awareness across all domains.

Chief of Staff of the Navy Captain 1st Rank, Bozhidar Ivanov, said that the Navy has developed a concept for a combat structure integrating conventional, unmanned, uncrewed and autonomous systems.

Companies will later present their products at the conference, which continues on Wednesday.

/KK/