site.btaUPDATED Bulgaria to Request Enhanced Airspace Protection from Allies, Minister Zapryanov Says

Bulgaria intends to request enhanced protection of its airspace with the support of allied resources, Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov told the Parliamentary Defence Committee here during a hearing on Tuesday. “We plan to ask for reinforcement of Bulgaria’s airspace security through allied resources, and talks on this are already under way,” Minister Zapryanov said.

He noted that steps have already been taken to enhance airspace monitoring in the country’s northeastern region.

In mid-September, Minister Zapryanov said that Bulgaria had increased surveillance of its airspace after a drone violated Romanian airspace during a Russian attack on Ukraine. Earlier, Poland announced it had scrambled fighter jets in a “preventive” operation due to the threat of drone strikes in nearby Ukrainian areas.

Regarding the proposed European "drone wall," the Minister said that the concept has not yet been clarified. "At this point, I cannot say what Bulgaria's contribution will be, because a project will be developed and an analysis of the scope of this system will be conducted," he noted. The political conclusion is that the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence needs to be upgraded with a drone defence system, as the current systems are designed to detect air targets and ballistic missiles, but not drones, the Minister commented. "Our experts are working to develop our own vision for creating such a system on our territory," Zapryanov added. Ukraine is the leading country in the fight against drones, and Bulgaria will use their experience, the Minister said.

Regarding the proposed European "drone wall," the Minister said that the concept has not yet been clarified. "At this point, I cannot say what Bulgaria's contribution will be, because a project will be developed and an analysis of the scope of this system will be conducted," he noted. The political conclusion is that the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence needs to be upgraded with a drone defence system, as the current systems are designed to detect air targets and ballistic missiles, but not drones, the Minister commented. "Our experts are working to develop our own vision for creating such a system on our territory," Zapryanov added. Ukraine is the leading country in the fight against drones, and Bulgaria will use their experience, the Minister said.

"We have already secured a new tank under warranty," Zapryanov said regarding the fuel leak that was detected on one of Bulgaria's F-16 aircraft. "We expect it to be transported to Bulgaria and replaced, after which the aircraft will be ready for operation. Once the tank has been replaced, test flights will be carried out and the aircraft will be accepted into service. The repair costs will be covered by Lockheed Martin, as the aircraft are under a three-year warranty," the Defence Minister explained.

"If the budget we have requested is approved, we will have full funding for the projects currently underway," Zapryanov said further. The Minister asked MPs for their support in ensuring that the funds allocated for modernization under the SAFE instrument exceed the budget ceiling and are not included in the percentage of defence spending. This will allow the Defence Ministry to accelerate modernization and secure new projects, the Minister added.