site.btaDefence Minister: Additional Funding Needed for Anti-Drone Systems

During a briefing following a meeting of the Council of Ministers' Security Council on Friday, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said that there is need for additional funding to purchase anti-drone systems.

The Defence Ministry presented a report on the condition of the strategic sites under its responsibility. Stoyanov added that the report highlighted the need for additional funding to purchase anti-drone systems, as well as targeted funding to install video surveillance and modern security systems. The Minister explained that the aim is to modernize security arrangements at Defence Ministry formations.

The Ministry has taken steps to introduce legislative amendments to combat drones, with the proposals published for public consultation, Stoyanov also said. He noted that the main issue discussed by the Security Council was the condition and security of strategic sites across the country.

Regarding the purchase of additional anti-drone systems, the Minister said negotiations were in progress, and that they expect to acquire more than 10 systems, depending on the available funding. "Our idea is to have contracts signed by the end of the year. The systems will be deployed at military formations outside populated areas, and deliveries are most likely to begin next year," Stoyanov said.

Asked about the amount of additional funding required, he said calculations were still pending - EUR 80 million had been earmarked under one of the SAFE projects, but this was far from sufficient to cover all strategic sites in the country.

In August, the Defence Ministry said that it had received two anti-drone systems purchased from US company AXON, with two more due to be delivered.