Bulgaria's cabinet has approved a memorandum of understanding with Spain to buy counter-drone systems together. Spain will lead the purchase, the government press office said.

The plan is to buy up to 10 mobile systems and up to 10 container-based systems.

The memorandum is part of a counter-drone project in Bulgaria's National Plan for Investment in the European Defence Industry under the EU's SAFE programme. Bulgaria has nearly €3.27bn available under the programme. All SAFE projects are expected to be completed by 31 December 2030.

The cabinet press office said signing the memorandum will speed up the project and improve the army's ability to counter the growing threat from drones.

Parliament must approve the spending, and Bulgaria must join the contract Spain already has for the purchase.

In mid-October, defence minister Dimitar Stoyanov said Bulgaria is also taking part in the "Drone Edge" initiative, with €80m pledged. The money is for a project to buy 20 systems under SAFE, 10 mobile and 10 stationary.