site.btaDefence Minister Comments on Strykers Purchase, Strategic Defence Review, SS-300 SAMs Supply to Ukraine

Bulgarian Defence Minister Todor Tagarev hopes that Parliament will adopt an investment expenditure proposal for the purchase of Stryker combat vehicles for the needs of the Land Forces before suspending its plenary sittings on account of the October 29 local elections. "We intend to procure the full set, including communications, battle management systems, ammunition, personnel training simulators and logistics support, which would make it possible to equip three battalion-size battlegroups," Tagarev pointed out. He talked to journalists during a visit to the training area on Saturday.

His Ministry targets completing the strategic defence review by the end of February 2024. "It is only normal that national defence policy should adapt to the changed situation. New requirements are set to us, and this review will enable us to take a stand at the interdepartmental level on the armed forces’ development and what is necessary for their support," the Defence Minister said.

"The Defence Ministry will comply with the National Assembly resolution of September 27, 2023 under which Bulgaria must supply additional military aid to Ukraine, including defective 5V55R surface-to-air missiles," Tagarev said. He specified that the Russian company concerned refused to repair and maintain these missiles back before the beginning of the war in February 2022. "The Russian company explained that they were unable to do what we wanted, and we lack the capability to cope on our own with their recovery," he specified.