site.bta3D Radars to Be Delivered by End-2025 if Contract Is Signed by End-2023 - Air Force Chief of Staff

The 3D radars will be delivered by the end of 2025 if a contract is signed by the end of this year with a contractor, Colonel Dimitar Georgiev, Chief of Staff of the Bulgarian Air Force, told journalists here on Thursday. He took part in the interdepartmental working group's meeting on the implementation of the project for acquiring new three-coordinate radars. 

According to Colonel Georgiev, the technical proposals are to be reviewed within two or three weeks. The delivery period of the radars is stipulated in the request for proposal and is two years after the conclusion of the contract, he said.

The scope of the project includes acquisition of seven new three-coordinate radars, training of personnel, a mandatory warranty covering the radars' maintenance for at least 24 months, with subsequent integrated logistics support for five years, he explained. He said this was to ensure the use and maintenance of the radars for a period of seven to eight years after their delivery.

Colonel Georgiev noted that initially requests for proposal were sent from eight companies, but proposals were received from only five - Lockheed Martin (USA), Leonardo (Italy), Elta (Israel), Indra (Spain), Thales (France).

The main criteria based on which these proposals will be evaluated and analysed are acquisition and maintenance costs, operational capability, combat effectiveness of the radars, industrial cooperation and warranty maintenance, Col. Georgiev said. He said the price offers will be opened at the second open meeting of the working group.

"The cost planned for the implementation of this project is based on a Request for Information that we sent out three years ago. It is set at BGN 400 million based on one of the proposals received, he said. 

The acquisition of seven new three-coordinate radars and secure aircraft identification equipment is aimed at overcoming the capability gap in ensuring effective, uninterrupted and reliable airspace surveillance and control while safeguarding Bulgaria's air sovereignty and fulfilling allied commitments in NATO's Integrated Air and Missile Defence System, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence said.