The parliamentary question of the people's representative is related to whether the Ministry of Defense plans to replace the basic small arms of the military personnel, which is currently with ammunition of a Soviet model.
Zapryanov points out that the complete replacement of all small arms systems, which are currently in service, with new ones requires a significant financial resource, which the Bulgarian side cannot provide at once. For this reason, it was necessary to postpone the deadlines for the delivery of the new systems, which, on the one hand, reduces the financial pressure, and on the other hand - allows a complete replacement of the old systems with new ones, meeting the standards of NATO, explains the Minister of Defense.
After an analysis conducted in the Defense Staff, the need for new weapons was determined as a priority, with preference given to the formations of the Land Forces, Special Operations Forces and the "Military Police" Service. As a result, new weapons systems have already been adopted in the indicated structures, and the available Russian systems have been replaced with new ones, in a caliber corresponding to NATO standards, Atanas Zapryanov also points out.
The Minister emphasizes that the process of full transition to calibers according to NATO standards is "irreversible", is currently being implemented, and the time horizon for its full achievement depends entirely on the amount of financial resources allocated.
As an example, Zapryanov cites the upcoming adoption of the new "Stryker" armored fighting vehicle in the Land Forces, in which the armament is fully in accordance with NATO standards.
The first five "Stryker" combat vehicles and the accompanying equipment should be delivered by the end of February, the Ministry of Defense announced at the beginning of the month.
"The modernization of the Bulgarian army has not stopped, but the extended budget does not provide funds for 2026, which we must spend on payments for current projects," the minister said a few days ago. Then he clarified that in the regular budget, which was supposed to be adopted, funds were provided for the second eight F-16 fighters, for the "Stryker" combat vehicles, for the "Iris" system and for ships, but these money do not appear in the extended budget. According to Zapryanov, the modernization projects will have to be reviewed in order to be able to shift the payment deadlines in time.