site.btaNo Country Can Counter Drones on Its Own - Chief of Defence Eftimov

Bulgaria’s Chief of Defence, Admiral Emil Eftimov, Thursday said that no country can counter drones on its own. He observed the final stage of Hawk Eye 2025, a Land Forces competition for unmanned aerial systems operators, held at the Lyulyak training centre near Stara Zagora.

Commenting on the European Union’s recent call for "a drone wall," Admiral Eftimov said the Bulgarian Defence Ministry and the Defence Staff have reviewed the proposal and informed the Defence Minister about Bulgaria’s capacity to contribute to the initiative. "We are convinced that this is absolutely necessary," he said, adding that anti-drone defence involves a set of measures including surveillance, detection, classification, tracking, and both kinetic and non-kinetic impact. "This requires enormous resources," Eftimov noted. He described the initiative as a structured approach that could help set standards, guide the defence industry, and standardize procedures and training.

Eftimov praised the performance of Bulgarian military personnel during Thursday’s competition. He noted that the integration of unmanned aerial vehicles into the Armed Forces is progressing but remains dependent on budget allocations and procedures. Bulgaria has potential, and the Armed Forces are developing well, he added. "We are building skills, and the pace is good, but it could be better," he added.