site.btaDefence Ministry Proposes Update of 2026 Armed Forces Development Plan

The Defence Ministry proposed an update of the 2026 Armed Forces Development Plan. Defence Minister Todor Tagarev’s report to the Council of Ministers was published on his Minitry’s website on Wednesday.

The Plan defines the functional and organizational structure, the management bodies, subordination, numbers, deployment, armament, equipment and material resources of the structures of the Armed Forces. According to the 2026 Plan, a review of its implementation is to be carried out every two years (early 2023 and 2025), and depending on its implementation, the need for its update is to be assessed in the second and third stages respectively.

The main proposals are aimed at optimizing the structures of the Armed Forces in connection to the expected delivery of the first F-16 Block 70 fighter jets in 2025.

The organizational structure of the Armed Forces

The proposal is aimed at optimizing the structures by making organizational and staffing changes in 2023 in view of the expected delivery of the first F-16 Block 70 aircraft in 2025 and the formation of a unified force protection and security structure through the establishment of a force protection squadron, as well as adapting command and control in the Logistics Support Command and improving logistical support aimed at ensuring the fulfilment of the Defence Ministry’s commitments under the Bulgarian participation in the NATO Force Integration Unit and the Multinational Ammunition Warehousing Initiative.

The number of Armed Forces

A reorganization is proposed with an increase in the size of the Armed Forces, as well as increasing controls on drivers and a significant increase in testing of blood samples by the Military Medical Academy (MMA) to establish alcohol and drug concentration.

The distribution of essential weapons and combat equipment in the Armed Forces

The changes are also related to increasing the training of cadets by transferring aircraft from the Air Force to the Military Academy G. Benkovski and updating the Plan in connection with the changes in the distribution of the essential weapons and combat equipment in the Armed Forces.