Bulgaria to deploy third drone system for Black Sea surveillance

Bulgaria will deploy a third drone system to monitor its Black Sea territorial waters by the end of the week, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said, amid drone attacks on vessels in the region.

The system has already carried out flights. Two other systems, operated by the Joint Special Operations Command and the Land Forces, are taking part in the enhanced surveillance.

Stoyanov did not identify the unit responsible for the third system, BNR reported.

“Who will operate it is not important. What matters is that the Bulgarian armed forces will be operating it. We already have a reconnaissance aircraft. You will see much more activity by Bulgarian military aviation along the Black Sea coast. We will, of course, be operating within our territorial waters. This should not worry Bulgarian citizens,” he said.

Recent drone attacks on commercial ships in the exclusive economic zones of Bulgaria and Romania in the Black Sea have prompted Sofia to step up surveillance and security measures and request additional aircraft, air defence systems and surveillance equipment from its NATO allies.

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Editor: Miglena Ivanova

English editor: Elizabeth Radkova