Bulgaria Military Shrinks Weapon Deals over Money Shortage

Defense Minister Angelov (right) with his new Deputy, Avgustina Tsvetkova. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria’s Defense Ministry intends to alter the scope of some its of weapon purchases because of a shortage of money, Defense Minister Angelov has announced.

Anyu Angelov gave a news conference Tuesday to present his newly-appointed Deputy, Avgustina Tsvetkova. The Deputy Defense Minister post became vacant in January when Angelov rose to the rank of Minister, while previous Defense head Nikolay Mladenov became Foreign Minister.

Minister Angelov announced that the Defense Minister is attempting to reduce the scope of some arm supply contracts in order to save money.

Thus, instead of purchasing 5 Spartan airplane from the Italian company Alenia Aeronautica, it is going to buy only 3 jets, and will ask the supplier to accept advance payments on the fourth and the fifth plane in order to cover the money the Bulgarian government still owes for the third plane.

As far as a deal for combat helicopters with Eurocopter is concerned, the Bulgarian Defense Ministry plans to give up three Panther helicopters.

The deal with Eurocopter was made in 2005, and provided for the purchase of 12 Cougar and 6 Panther helicopters for a total of EUR 358 M. The Defense Ministry wants to keep the 12 Cougars and 3 Panther helicopters.

Bulgaria’s Defense Minister also commented on the project for the construction of a military optic cable system known as Strandzha 2, which led to an investigation and arrest of former Defense Minister Nikolay Tsonev.

Under the contract signed by Tsonev in 2008, the government is going to pay a total of BGN 120 M to private contractors for the optic cable whose feasibility is questionable.

Minister Angelov said the Bulgarian military had a functioning system for communication in time of war, and that he was not convinced the Strandzha 2 system was necessary.

Angelov did express his regret, however, that a former Defense Minister had come to be arrested over suspected violations.

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