The Bulgarian defence ministry is planning to refit two of the frigates currently in service to the navy in order to fully restore their capabilities.

The refitting of Drazki and Verni frigates, both of which used to be in service to the Belgian navy, will be carried at the same time as the acquisition of two new multi-purpose patrol ships.

This was stated by Rear Admiral Mitko Petev, commander of the Bulgarian navy, in an interview for dnevnik.bg.

The refitting is required so that the frigates could be used for participation in operations and missions of NATO in the next fifteen years.

At present, there are six battleships in service of the navy's patrol forces, part of which have been constructed in the former Soviet Union at the end of the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s.

These ships are no match to the contemporary armament and technology and are experiencing serious problems with maintenance and the supply of spare parts.

Moreover, the ships constructed in the former Soviet Union are not operationally compatible with those of NATO, which makes their participation in the collective defence of the Alliance impossible.

The defence ministry's proposal for the acquisition of two new multi-purpose patrol ships will allow for the replacement of the outdated Soviet vessels without reducing the navy's fighting capability.

Petev said that it would be great if the two new ships are built in Bulgaria as this would have a considerable economic and social effect as it would bring revenues from taxes and would create some 400-500 jobs. Moreover, the integrated logistical maintenance will be carried out more easily.

Meanwhile, the parliamentary defence committee approved the projects on the acquisition of new military aircraft and new patrol ships, which had been adopted by the government in March.