Official Ceremony Celebrates Bulgaria’s First F-16 Block 70 as U.S. Defense Ties Strengthen
The first Bulgarian F-16 Block 70 multi-role fighter jet
Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev has said his institution will be forced to lay off 4600 military and civilian officers due to budget restrictions.
"[This is] something I wouldn't even wish to think about," the Bulgarian National Radio quotes him as saying.
Nenchev has called for an urgent update of the expenditure, especially in personnel costs.
Currently the ministry's budget for 2015 is BGN 987 M and is likely to remain that much at least until 2017.
Bulgaria's 2015 state budget was passed by lawmakers in a marathon session in Parliament in December of last year.
It did not envisage an increase in defense expenditures despite calls from President Rosen Plevneliev to set aside additional funding in line with NATO requirements.
Boyko Borissov, former Prime Minister and current leader of the ruling GERB party, emphasized Bulgaria’s long-standing experience and skilled workforce in the defense sector
This year, Bulgaria is set to receive its first batch of 33 Stryker combat vehicles for the Land Forces
The first Bulgarian F-16 Block 70 multi-role fighter jet
Bulgaria continues its military modernization efforts, now surpassing NATO’s 2% defense spending target by dedicating 3% of its GDP to defense
The Bulgarian Ministry of Defense has announced 32 open positions in a military formation located in Bankya
Russia continues to pose the most serious and immediate threat to NATO and the European Union, according to the 2024 Report on the Status of the Defense and Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria
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