The cabinet has approved a bill to amend Bulgaria's Defence and Armed Forces Act, the government press office said.

Service members whose duties go beyond normal working hours will get shorter hours in return. The law will also set the terms for using this compensation and for rest periods.

The bill updates the cost thresholds for programmes and projects to buy military equipment. The defence minister, the cabinet and parliament have the right to approve them. It also clarifies how contracts are awarded under the NATO Security Investment Programme, and it updates the fines in the law.

Military personnel will be able to be reassigned in the interest of the service and according to their qualifications. For sergeants, the bill sets out a career path, and it clarifies the status of cadets and college students.

Service in the reserve after military service becomes possible, as the maximum age for military service is brought in line with the maximum age for reserve service and for keeping reservists on the military register.

The bill also sets rules on when veterans, disabled former service members and those discharged from service may wear uniforms and insignia. The status and powers of advisory bodies and officials in the Defence Ministry system are made the same.

Earlier changes to the same law have been in force since the start of the year, BTA recalls. They raised the maximum age for service by 2 years for service members who have not claimed their pension. This applies to all ranks, from private to chief of defence.

The same amendments allow the armed forces to use weapons and technical equipment against autonomous drones when guarding and defending military sites, military units and other facilities.