Bulgaria’s parliament approves project for five more air defence systems
Baku, October 15, AZERTAC
Parliament approved an updated air defence investment project on Thursday, revising the first stage for one IRIS-T SLM system and adding a second for five more, according to the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA).
The updated Acquisition of Surface-to-Air Missile Systems project provides for warranty and initial logistical support, the delivery of guided surface-to-air missiles and additional equipment.
MPs from every parliamentary group except Vazrazhdane backed the decision.
The first-stage revision replaces a multisensor tracker, a component specified in the investment project approved by Parliament in 2024, with alternative equipment and shortens delivery times. The replacement will cut the value of the existing contract from EUR 182,114,311 to EUR 180,605,928. The two stages, financed under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument, have a combined value of EUR 1,106,466,933.
Options for acquiring unmanned aerial systems for use with the surface-to-air missile systems will also be explored, the parliamentary Defence Committee's report says.
Implementation will involve signing a programme agreement between the Bulgarian and German defence ministries and an addendum to the supply contract with Diehl Defence for IRIS-T air defence systems, the report adds.
Parliament approved the original acquisition on August 8, 2024, providing for one medium-range IRIS-T SLM surface-to-air missile system. On September 6, 2024, Bulgaria and Germany signed a programme agreement for joint procurement under the European Sky Shield Initiative, a framework for acquiring ground-based air defence systems.
On October 14, 2026, the Cabinet approved a draft agreement with Germany for five additional IRIS-T SLM systems under SAFE. It authorized the defence minister to sign once Parliament approved the updated investment project. The agreement will subsequently require parliamentary ratification.
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