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

Deputy PM Donchev: Entering the Eurozone will serve as accelerator for economic growth

“Entering the Eurozone does not present any risk to Bulgaria. Adopting the Euro can only serve as a powerful accelerator for our economic growth,” said Deputy PM and Minister of Innovation and Growth Tomislav Donchev during the discussion “The..

published on 7/15/25 4:37 PM

Six persons indicted for hooliganism during protests in front of EC building in Sofia

The Sofia Regional Prosecutor’s Office has indicted 6 individuals for hooliganism in front of the European Commission and European Parliament building in Sofia. The incident occurred during the protest organized by Vazrazhdane against the..

published on 7/15/25 4:04 PM

Council for Electronic Media fails to elect new director general of public service TV BNT

At three consecutive sittings today, the Council for Electronic Media (CEM) failed to elect a director general of Bulgaria’s public service TV BNT. None of the 8 applicants earned the minimum of 3 votes in favour out of the 5 members of the..

published on 7/15/25 2:47 PM