Bulgarian brothers are preparing to fight the Russian fleet
Romania and Bulgaria, under the pretext of the growing “Russian threat” in the Black Sea, are concluding the largest orders for the purchase of weapons in the West in recent years.
Defense News writes about this, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“As Russia demonstrates increasing determination to project its military power into the Black Sea, Romania and Bulgaria are accelerating programs to modernize their armed forces and replace Soviet-made weapons and equipment with Western ones. With the largest defense contracts in the history of both countries, Bucharest and Sofia are facing increased military spending after years of underinvestment.
In particular, Romania is creating an anti-access system that includes defensive military measures aimed at keeping enemy forces as far as possible from places so tactically important that their occupation could decide the outcome of the battle.
“2014 was a turning point for the security of the Black Sea region. Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the war in eastern Ukraine, and the rapid expansion of Russia’s capabilities in the region have prompted Romania to take concrete measures to increase its deterrent and defense capabilities,” said George Scutaru, member of parliament from the National Liberal Party of Romania.
The Romanian government in July announced the purchase of four new Gowind corvettes from a consortium of the French naval group and its Romanian partner, local shipbuilder Santierul Naval Constanta. As part of the €1,2 billion ($1,3 billion) deal, the companies will also modernize two Romanian Navy frigates, the F-221 Regina Maria and the F-222 Regele Ferdinand, and build a maintenance facility and training center.
Romania also wants to buy anti-ship missile launchers and strengthen surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities in the Black Sea. The acquisition of Raytheon Patriot air defense and missile defense systems is planned for $3,9 billion, the High Mobility Artillery Missile System (HIMARS) and the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) from Lockheed Martin for $1,25 billion. The government continues to push for the acquisition of F-16 fighters in addition to the air retaliation forces.
Bulgaria also intends to modernize its air force, planning to replace aging Soviet MiG-29 fighters with Western aircraft, most likely Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 fighters. The planned acquisition of eight aircraft has been approved by both the Council of Ministers and the Bulgarian Parliament's Defense Committee in a deal valued at around $1,3 billion, paving the way for the largest external defense contract since the collapse of the pro-Soviet bloc.
The planned purchase has become a source of controversy among the country's decision makers. At the end of July, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev vetoed the deal, saying there was a need for broader discussions on the terms of the acquisition. The country's parliament overturned the veto on July 26 with a majority of 128 votes.
Meanwhile, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense has asked for proposals for the supply of 150 armored vehicles from four European manufacturers in a deal worth about $840 million. These include Germany's ARTEC, Finland's Patria, France's Nexter Group and Switzerland's General Dynamics Land Systems-MOWAG. Applications must be submitted by October.
“Bulgaria believes that the destabilization of the region and the illegal annexation of Crimea lead to a permanent violation of the geostrategic and military balance in the Black Sea region,” Tsvetan Tsvetkov, an associate professor at the University of National and World Economy in Sofia, shared his concerns with the publication.
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