Bulgaria is receiving the first "Stryker" combat vehicles at an official ceremony at the "Terem" military plant in Veliko Tarnovo, BTA and Bulfoto reported. The event marks an important stage in the modernization of our army and the beginning of the actual commissioning of the new type of equipment.
SEE ALL PHOTOS HERE >>
The acquisition of the "Stryker" vehicles is part of our country's commitments to NATO's collective defense and the strengthening of the defense capabilities of the Land Forces.
Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov received the honor guard of the National Military University (NMU) "Vasil Levski" at the "Terem" military plant in Veliko Tarnovo. This marked the beginning of the official ceremony at which he welcomed the first assembled "Stryker" combat vehicles for the Land Forces.
Photo: Bulfoto
The contract for the delivery of 183 combat vehicles from the "Stryker" family was initially signed for $1.37 billion, but this summer Parliament approved an increase of more than $44.7 million due to rising prices and inflation. The first eight vehicles have already been assembled, and five of them have already been provided to the Land Forces' First Mechanized Brigade in Karlovo.
Photo: Bulfoto
Attending the official ceremony are Chief of Defense Admiral Emil Eftimov, representatives of the Bulgarian Army, the management of the "Terem" Military Plant, Canada's ambassador to Bulgaria Kevin Rex, representatives of the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Armed Forces.
During his visit to the military plant in Veliko Tarnovo this summer, Minister Stoyanov said that the enterprise had the necessary infrastructure and expertise to establish itself as a regional service center for the "Stryker" platform. This will guarantee long-term maintenance capabilities for the vehicles after all 183 stipulated in the signed contract have been delivered, and will ensure their reliable operation in the future.
Photo: Bulfoto
Bulgarian servicemen have been trained to operate the "Stryker" vehicles, Chief of Defense Admiral Emil Eftimov, who is stepping down, told journalists in Veliko Tarnovo.
At the official ceremony for the handover of the American vehicles for assembly at the "Terem-Ivaylo" plant in Veliko Tarnovo, he said that this was an important stage in the modernization of the Bulgarian Army and the development of the strategic partnership with the United States and Canada.
The acceptance of the new "Stryker" vehicles is an event whose significance goes beyond the delivery of modern military equipment—it is a concrete expression of Bulgaria's conscious and defining choice to build modern, combat-capable and interoperable armed forces, ready to serve national interests and fulfill its allied commitments, he said.
The Chief of Defense emphasized that the vehicles would provide capabilities to the Bulgarian Land Forces. "In the face of serious challenges to European security, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, building combat-capable land formations is a critical necessity," Efremov said. He specified that the new vehicles would provide radically improved maneuverability, modern protection and a significantly greater level of firepower for military formations.
Photo: BTA
The United States is a key ally of Bulgaria, and this cooperation makes a substantial contribution to strengthening NATO's eastern flank and security in the Black Sea region. The acquisition of the "Stryker" combat vehicles and "F-16" aircraft is proof that this partnership is taking shape through concrete, long-term investments, he said. He added that the coastal missile system is also expected.
Expectations are for deeper industrial and technological cooperation between the two countries, while the activities at the plant demonstrate the potential of Bulgaria's defense industry, Eftimov also said. He added that the prospect of the "Terem-Ivaylo" plant establishing itself as a regional maintenance center for the "Stryker" platform deserves special attention, because this would allow Bulgaria to provide services in support of allies in the region. He summarized that the most important task was to turn the acquisition of the new combat equipment into a real defense capability, and that the commitment of the command and personnel in this process was immense.
Photo: BTA
Source: dnes.dir.bg