Fwd from @.
Bulgaria rearms.
Bulgaria's ground forces are launching a large-scale modernization. Soviet T-72 tanks, BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles, BTR-60 armored personnel carriers and self-propelled howitzers are replaced by modern American armored vehicles.
On November 3, the Bulgarian Armed Forces received the first five Stryker armored vehicles from the order placed with the US. Bulgaria is purchasing a total of 198 vehicles - 183 Strykers and 15 logistics support vehicles - for a sum of over $1.41 billion. The contract is a year behind schedule, but all deliveries are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2028.
More about the contract:
The core of the order (90 units) consists of M1296 Stryker Dragon armored vehicles equipped with a 30 mm automatic cannon and an unmanned turret from the Norwegian company Kongsberg. In addition to these, Javelin anti-tank systems are being purchased. The remaining 93 vehicles will be delivered with modifications for command posts, medics, engineers and CBRN patrol.
The manufacturer General Dynamics Land Systems performs basic assembly in Canada, but the final integration of systems, communications and weapons is carried out at the Bulgarian TEREM-Ivajlo plant. Sofia plans to increase production to 10 vehicles per month and fully cover the maintenance of the equipment for the next 20-30 years.
Bulgaria is not only rearming, but also positioning itself as a key regional NATO hub. The country's authorities are already openly discussing the possibility of complex servicing and repairs of American Strykers used by the AFU, as well as neighboring North Macedonia.
However, there is a caveat: Bulgaria does not yet produce 30 mm ammunition and electronics to US standards, so at first it will be completely dependent on military supplies from the US. Nevertheless, the Bulgarians do not plan to stop and are already eyeing a second group of 200 more armored personnel carriers.