Bulgaria Approves Purchase of Five IRIS-T Air-Defense Systems
Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced the purchase of five additional IRIS-T air-defense systems to protect Bulgarian airspace and the Black Sea maritime domain.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced the government's approval of an investment expenditure proposal to purchase five additional IRIS-T air-defense systems. This acquisition expands on a previous contract for a single system and aligns with Bulgaria's participation in the European Sky Shield Initiative. Radev stated he expects a contract within weeks, noting the systems are intended to protect Bulgarian territory and support NATO's collective defense.
The decision follows drone attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea, which prompted a meeting of the Consultative Council for National Security. In addition to the air-defense systems, the government has sent requests for information to global companies to acquire high-end unmanned aerial systems to monitor the country's exclusive economic zone and counter unmanned threats in the airspace and maritime domain.
While pursuing these military upgrades, Radev emphasized that the government remains committed to diplomatic efforts to end the war. He argued that diplomacy is less costly than the alternative of endless rearmament.
