site.btaDefence Minister: 3D Radars Acquisition Procedure at Advanced Stage

Replying to a question from the media, Bulgarian Defence Minister Todor Tagarev said Friday that the process of acquisition of 3D radars for the Armed Forces is at an advanced stage. "We will open the financial part of the offers by the end of the year," he added.

Tagarev said that Russia keeps taking provocative actions against free shipping in the Black Sea. "The European Union is acting to enhance vigilance in the Black Sea region. Together with neighboring Romania and Turkiye, we are preparing to conduct a mine clearing operation, which will be open to other allies. In this way, we will guarantee our security better," the Minister said.

Tagarev was attending a demonstration of operational capabilities for conducting a defence operation, held at the Novo Selo Training Area near Sliven within the framework of exercise Iron Strike 2023.

The Minister noted that the service members had accomplished their missions. He greeted the participants and said that new exercises are expected soon.

"Eight allies are working together in Bulgarian territory. They are preparing together and stand ready to deter any potential aggressor, to defend our country, and to contribute to our security and the security of NATO's Eastern Flank," Tagarev said. He was referring to Bulgaria as the battlegroup's host nation, Italy as the framework nation, and the six contributing states: Albania, Greece, North Macedonia, Romania, Turkiye and the US.

"We are pleased that, for the first time in almost 20 years since Bulgaria joined NATO, North Atlantic Council at ambassador level are paying a visit to our country. They all had the opportunity to see what the level of preparedness is, to talk to the service members, and to think about what else can be done so we all together can guarantee our common security even better," he added.

Friday's demonstration at Novo Selo were observed by the ambassadors of the countries whose military participate in the multinational battlegroup hosted by Bulgaria, as well as by parliamentary committees chairpersons and floor leaders.

The exercise is conducted under plans for preparation of the multinational battlegroup established to strengthen NATO's deterrence and defence capabilities in order to guarantee the security of NATO's Eastern Flank member states.