site.btaParliamentary Committee Approves Acquisition of Equipment to Enhance Anti-Submarine Warfare Capabilities

The parliamentary defence committee on Wednesday approved the acquisition of electronic warfare systems and radio frequency weapons to enhance anti-submarine warfare capabilities under a project to acquire multi-purpose modular patrol vessels for the Navy. The project is worth BGN 194,331,270 including VAT.

The project's justification, which was submitted by the Council of Ministers, states that the implementation of the tasks for the protection of Bulgaria's maritime spaces and the NATO Capabilities Goals 2021 package require the ship platforms to be equipped with modern active countermeasure radio-electronic systems, active and passive radio-electronic reconnaissance equipment and anti-submarine warfare systems.

In late 2020, a contract was signed between the Ministry of Defence and Fr. Lurssen Werft GmbH & Co.kG (now "NVL B.V. & Co. kG") - Federal Republic of Germany, for the design, construction and delivery of two Multipurpose Modular Patrol Vessels (MMPC). The funding of BGN 984 million, approved by the National Assembly does not allow for the inclusion of electronic warfare systems and radio frequency weapons for the enhancement of anti-submarine warfare capabilities in the concluded contract with NVL.

The implementation of the project will begin in 2024 and will be completed by early 2028.

The committee meeting today was attended by Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov. He noted that during negotiations with the company, four options were considered to implement the options to achieve the most favourable terms in terms of price, warranty period and maintenance. Eftimov pointed out that the first vessel has already been launched.