site.btaAir Force Maintains Readiness to Defend Airspace, Says Defence Minister Zapryanov

Bulgaria’s Air Force maintains the necessary readiness to defend the country’s airspace, either independently or as part of NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence, in case of mass drone incursions, Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said in a written response to Daniel Lorer, Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) MP, published on the National Assembly website. 

Following recent incidents in Polish airspace, Bulgaria has strengthened surveillance and airspace security in the northeast region, Zapryanov noted. The Ministry of Defence has been developing anti-drone capabilities prior to those incidents and is currently working on several procurement projects for weapons systems to enhance the armed forces’ operational capacity.

EUR 3.27 billion available for defence under EU SAFE Instrument

Zapryanov also addressed questions from MP Ivaylo Mirchev (CC–DB) regarding funding for army modernization. In early September, the European Commission approved the preliminary allocation of EUR 150 billion in low-interest loans under the EU’s SAFE (Security Assistance for Europe) programme, with EUR 3.27 billion earmarked for Bulgaria.

The Defence Ministry has until November 30 to submit a substantiated Investment Plan for the European Defence Industry, which will be evaluated by the European Commission. A loan agreement could be signed by the end of Q1 2026.

Once signed, the Ministry will develop a National Defence Investment Plan aligned with Bulgaria’s strategic commitments and the SAFE programme. The scope and value of modernization projects will depend on the 2026 defence budget and the size of the loan agreed under SAFE, Zapryanov said, emphasizing the Ministry’s aim to sustain the current accelerated pace of rearmament.