Bulgaria intends to purchase five additional anti-aircraft missile systems

The Bulgarian government has prepared an updated air defense modernization plan involving the purchase of five additional anti-aircraft missile systems. This was reported on October 7 by the BNT TV channel.

"The aim of the project is to increase the Air Force's air defense capabilities in accordance with security requirements through the acquisition of new anti—aircraft missile systems," the statement said.

It is specified that the Council of Ministers has sent a proposal to the National Assembly to approve the draft investment expenditure. As part of the first stage of modernization, it is planned to purchase one Iris-T air defense system with short-range missiles. The updated project involves replacing some of the equipment in 2024 and shortening its delivery time. The second stage of the program includes the purchase of five additional complexes.

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On October 6, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev noted that the country had not applied Articles 4 and 5 of NATO after the attack on merchant ships on the coast. According to him, naval and aerial drones were used to attack ships in the Black Sea. Radev also said that drone strikes are constantly being carried out on ships, as "the military conflict is expanding its spatial scale."