site.btaArmed Forces Modernization Should Not Stop, Defence Minister Says

The modernization of the army should not stop: it is a process, not a one-time action, Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov told journalists as he attended the ceremonial opening of the 2026/2027 academic year at the Vasil Levski Vocational High School in Mezdra. He commented on the topic of the budget of the Ministry of Defence for next year and said that a meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Finance is scheduled later on Tuesday to discuss the financial framework for 2027.

Stoyanov also said that the Armed Forces had been neglected for nearly 30 years and that after the steps taken in recent years for modernization, the process must continue. “I hope to convince the government that these funds are needed and that we must implement what we have planned,” Stoyanov added.

Regarding public consultation on amendments to the Defence and Armed Forces Act, the Minister said that fighting drones is a challenge that the security system faces and that innovative thinking is required. He said that he has instructed the leadership of the Ministry of Defence to develop a unified system for submitting information in one place, where the fastest possible decision would be made about what is happening in the airspace - from zero up to the highest part of the airspace that can be detected, and not only above 3,000 meters, as had been the case under older doctrines.

Stoyanov said that these issues will be part of the changes to the Defence and Armed Forces Act. They must go through public consultation, which should end by October 10. His ambition is for effective legislation in this direction to be in place as of January 1, 2027. According to him, similar laws are already in force in Poland, Romania, and other countries.

Dimitar Stoyanov said that an administrative reform at the Ministry is also forthcoming.

He also commented on the topic of defence education and said that military schools are filled to capacity.