site.btaLv 248 Mln Allocated for Restoring Capacities of the Bulgarian Army

111 MILITARY - DEFENSE - BRIEFING

Lv 248 Mln Allocated
for Restoring Capacities
of the Bulgarian Army


Sofia, December 12 (BTA) - A total of 248 million leva will be allocated to the Bulgarian Army and for restoring the service life of MiG-29, Su-25 and L-39 aircraft, and for the maintenance of Cougar helicopters, Defense Minister Krassimir Karakachanov said during a briefing at the Council of Ministers here on Wednesday. Two sessions ago, the Council of Ministers approved 134 million leva for the Defense Ministry's budget, and has now approved an additional 113 million leva.

Karakachanov recalled that at the last session, resources for the maintenance of T-72 tanks were approved as well. He noted that the maintenance and restoration of existing equipment will slow down the three ongoing projects for the Army's modernization, all of which are at different stages.

Ten million leva were allocated to the Military Medical Academy and to the Military Information Service. "This year, the Defense Ministry not only raised military salaries, but allocated this 248 million leva in addition to the planned budget to restore the Bulgarian Army's capacities for fulfilling its duties," Karakachanov said.

The Chief of Defence, General Andrey Botsev, noted that the resources will also be used for restoring the service life of military equipment and technologies, for upgrading the communications and information system, and for improving soldiers' living conditions.

The Bulgarian Air Force (BAF) Commander, General Major Tsanko Stoykov, noted that the allocated funding will make it possible to enter into logistic maintenance contracts for almost all BAF-owned aircraft and helicopters. LI/TH