Hemus 2026 International Defence Exhibition Kicks Off in Plovdiv

BTA team

The Hemus 2026 International Defence Equipment and Services Exhibition opens in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, June 3, 2026 (BTA Photo/Boyan Botev)

Sofia,

03.06.2026 20:40

(BTA)

The Hemus 2026 International Defence Equipment and Services Exhibition opened on the premises of the International Fair of Plovdiv on Wednesday. The four-day event has attracted 197 Bulgarian and international exhibitors. It is proceeding under the auspices of the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Economy, Investment and Industry, and the Ministry of Innovation and Digital Transformation. Its main organizer is the Hemus 95 Foundation.

The opening ceremony was attended by President Iliana Iotova, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov, Innovation and Digital Transformation Minister Ivan Vasilev, Plovdiv Regional Governor Georgi Yanev and Plovdiv Mayor Kostadin Dimitrov, among others.

President Iliana Iotova said at the opening that modern defence capabilities need new inventions, achievements at the highest technological levels, as well as security and sustainability of production. This, she said, requires a rethink of national policies in the sector, as the war in Ukraine in particular has exposed several serious deficits. These include insufficient production, irregular supplies and a lack of coordination among EU Member States. "The events of the past few years - the war in Ukraine and the Middle East - have made all institutions rethink the concept of security and realize that the security of our peoples and countries can no longer be guaranteed in the old way alone: through human resources and the production of ever more equipment," Iotova said.

Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said in an address that the European SAFE financial mechanism allows Bulgaria to modernize its armed forces while strengthening its industrial and technological capacity. He noted that Bulgaria’s national SAFE plan, adopted in November 2025, includes nine key defence projects and has already been approved by the European Commission. The country is set to sign an agreement for investments worth EUR 3.2 billion. According to Stoyanov, exhibitors at the Hemus Defence Exchibition have increased from 157 in the previous edition to 197 now, alongside a 37% increase in Bulgarian companies and a 17% rise in international participation.

Innovation and Digital Transformation Minister Ivan Vasilev added that Bulgaria has a strong foundation in defence technologies.

The Economy Ministry said during the exhibition that Bulgaria has officially signed Amendment No. 1 to the Framework Agreement with US defence company Lockheed Martin under the Industrial Cooperation Programme linked to the acquisition of F-16 Block 70 fighter aircraft. The amendment envisages establishing maintenance capabilities for F-16 Block 70 aircraft in Bulgaria, including a generators repair facility.

Defence Minister Stoyanov met representatives of the Bulgarian defence industry at a working breakfast. Representatives of more than 20 Bulgarian companies took part. Stoyanov said his ministry will work to ensure that more than 20% of the funding for industrial projects in the defence sector in Bulgaria goes to local companies.

/VE/