Bulgaria to join NATO’s counter-drone initiative by the end of the month

Bulgaria expects to join NATO’s initiative to counter low-altitude aerial threats by October 30, Minister of Defence Dimitar Stoyanov said in the National Assembly in response to a question about the country’s participation in allied air defence and counter-drone programmes. He said Bulgaria had not withdrawn from the Drone Edge initiative.

“Bulgaria has not withdrawn. We took steps to assess the cost and determine whether it was affordable within our budget. We were informed that the annual contribution would be EUR 220,000. We can afford this amount, and Bulgaria will become part of the project very soon”, Minister Stoyanov said.

He added that Bulgaria has committed EUR 80 million to the initiative through the European Union's SAFE mechanism for a project to acquire 20 systems - 10 mobile and 10 stationary. A memorandum of understanding with Spain on the joint acquisition of these systems is expected to be signed shortly.

Edited by Diana Tsankova

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov