Bulgaria is officially receiving the first “Stryker” combat vehicles at the “Terem” military plant in Veliko Tarnovo, Bultfoto and BTA 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.
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The acquisition of the “Stryker” vehicles is part of our country's commitments to NATO's collective defense and the strengthening of the capabilities of the Land Forces.
Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov accepted the honor guard of the “Vasil Levski” National Military University (NMU) 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: Bultfoto
The contract for the delivery of 183 combat vehicles from the “Stryker” family was initially signed for $1.37 billion, but over the summer the National Assembly 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 delivered to the First Mechanized Brigade of the Land Forces in Karlovo.
Photo: Bultfoto
Those attending the official ceremony include Chief of Defense Admiral Emil Eftimov, representatives of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, the management of the “Terem” Military Plant, Canadian 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 over the 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: Bultfoto
Bulgarian servicemen have been trained to operate the “Stryker” vehicles, Chief of Defense Admiral Emil Eftimov, who is resigning, 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 a conscious and decisive choice for Bulgaria to build modern, combat-capable and interoperable armed forces, ready to serve the national interest and fulfill its allied commitments, he said.
The Chief of Defense stressed that the vehicles would provide capabilities to Bulgaria’s Land Forces. “Amid 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 to 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 “Stryker” combat vehicles and “F-16” aircraft is proof that this partnership is expressed through specific 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 particular attention, as this would enable Bulgaria to provide services in support of allies in the region. He concluded that the most important task was to transform 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 enormous.
Photo: BTA
Source: dnes.dir.bg