Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Modernization program of the Bulgarian army is not financially secure: Defence Minister

Dimitar Stoyanov, caretaker defence minister
Photo: BGNES

The caretaker Minister of Defence Dimitar Stoyanov has commented that there are gaps and ambiguities in the decision adopted by the last parliament on the modernization of the Bulgarian army by 2032. No financial security has been envisaged, he claims.


It is written that weapons and equipment should only be acquired from countries in the EU and NATO, which excludes Israel or Switzerland. The provision of a military aircraft to replace the decommissioned MiG-29 until the arrival of the F-16s ordered from the USA is also a problem. The deadline for finding planes is February 15, and negotiations with Sweden, France and Israel are still ongoing, Stoyanov said. 

The ministry has also requested bids for the acquisition of 3D radars, infantry fighting vehicles, 155-mm howitzers and anti-aircraft missile systems, to be purchased with installment payments of up to 15 years.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Yellow code warning for cold weather issued for 5 districts in Northeastern Bulgaria

On Monday, the lowest temperatures will range from minus 15°C to minus 10°C, higher in Western Bulgaria, for Sofia around minus 4°C. In the morning, there will be fog near the rivers. It will be mostly sunny during the day. Maximum temperatures will..

published on 2/23/25 5:20 PM

Activists of the civil movement BOEC splatter red paint in front of the Russian Embassy in Sofia

Red paint was splattered in front of the Russian Embassy in Sofia. A video posted on the Facebook page of "BOEC" shows activists of the civil movement unloading paint buckets from a vehicle and spilling the paint in front of the embassy..

published on 2/23/25 2:53 PM
Kostadin Kostadinov

Vazrazhdane to protest in Parliament against the adoption of the euro

"We came out to defend freedom. We will keep fighting. The protest continues on Wednesday", Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov said an interview with BNR. "The protest continues inside the National Assembly. We will resist until the end", the MP..

published on 2/23/25 12:20 PM