site.btaShipbuilder NVL to Provide Navy with Vessels Equipped with Electronic Warfare Systems

Caretaker Minister of Defence Atanas Zapryanov and the representative of the shipbuilding company Naval Vessels Lurssen (NVL), formerly known as FR.Lürssen Werft GmbH & Co. KG, Dirk Malgowski signed a supplementary agreement on Thursday for the implementation of the investment project "Electronic Warfare Systems and Radio Frequency Weapons for the Enhancement of Anti-Submarine Warfare Capabilities" to a project for the acquisition of a multi-purpose modular patrol vessel for the Navy, the Ministry of Defence reported here on Thursday.

The signing took place in the presence of Germany’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, Irene Maria Plank, Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov, caretaker Deputy Minister of Defence Adelina Nikolova and Deputy Commander of the Navy Flotilla Admiral Vanyo Musinski.

Zapryanov thanked NVL for its excellent work on constructing the ships. He added: "What we have achieved so far gives me reason to be confident that the annex we are signing will also be executed on time, and we will achieve the desired parameters for the ships."

The annex will allow the integration of electronic warfare and radio weapon systems to take place during the ships' construction. The goal is to equip the two vessels with systems that ensure their protection at the beginning of their operation. The first multi-purpose modular patrol ship is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in late 2025, and the second should arrive in early 2027.

The project, approved by the National Assembly on July 26, 2024, is worth BGN 194,331,270 including VAT.

The deepening of bilateral defence cooperation was discussed at the subsequent meeting between Plank and the Ministry's political and military leadership in the person of Zapryanov, Nikolova and Eftimov.