Parliament gives the green light to the "Stryker" project

The National Assembly approved an amendment to the investment expenditure project related to the acquisition of Stryker family combat vehicles. The decision was passed with 156 votes in favor, while representatives of "Vazrazhdane" voted "against".

"The Bulgarian Army has been underestimated for many years, as a result of which modernization processes only began in 2018-2019," stated Minister of Defense Dimitar Stoyanov.

Details about the update

The price increase is less than 3% of the total amount, and according to MP Hristo Simeonov, the negotiation team managed to secure significant discounts in specific items:

  • Almost 20% lower costs for ammunition;
  • 12% lower price for Javelin anti-tank systems;
  • $14 million saved by deferring the purchase of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Opposition positions

"Vazrazhdane" criticized the decision, stating that the price hike was inevitable. MP Ivelin Parvanov expressed the opinion that the equipment being purchased does not meet modern military needs.

Why is the price changing?

The official motives indicate that the reason for adjusting the amount from $1.376 billion to nearly $1.414 billion lies in the shortage of raw materials and global inflation. The updated budget also includes 1.5% for unforeseen expenses.