Bulgarian military pictures

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The Military of Bulgaria, officially the Bulgarian Army (Bulgarian: Българска армия) represents the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria. The Commander-in-Chief is the President of Bulgaria (currently Rosen Plevneliev). The Ministry of Defence is in charge of political leadership while military command remains in the hands of the General Staff, headed by the Chief of Staff. There are three main branches – the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force.

Throughout history, the army has played a major role in defending the country's sovereignty. Only several years after its liberation (1878), Bulgaria became a regional military power and was involved in several major wars – Serbo-Bulgarian War (1885), First Balkan War (1912–13), Second Balkan War (1913), First World War (1915–1919) and Second World War (1941–1944), during which the Army gained significant combat experience. During the Cold War the People's Republic of Bulgaria maintained one of the largest militaries in the Warsaw Pact, numbering an estimated 152,000 troops in 1988. Since the Fall of Communism, the country's political leadership decided to pursue a pro-NATO policy, thus reducing military personnel and weaponry. Bulgaria joined the North-Atlantic Treaty Organization in 2004, and currently maintains a total 776 deployed troops in three countries.

The patron saint of the Bulgarian Army is St. George. The Army day or St. George's Day (6 May) is an official holiday in the country.

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The Bulgarian Navy (Bulgarian: Военноморски сили на Република България, Voennomorski sili na Republika Balgariya) is the navy of Republic of Bulgaria and forms part of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. It has been largely overlooked in the reforms that Bulgaria had to go through in order to comply with NATO standards, mostly because of the great expense involved and the fact that naval assaults are not considered to be a great concern for the country's security. That is why three of the four combat submarines (excluding Slava) are now docked and have been out of operation for some time. The last one was decommissioned in November 2011. Only the more modern frigates, corvettes and missile crafts are on active duty.

In order to meet at least some of the NATO requirements, in 2005 the Bulgarian government bought from Belgium a Wielingen-class frigate, the BNS Wandelaar (F-912) (built in 1977), and renamed it to the BG Drazki. In 2005, Bulgarian ship Smeli for first time took part as full NATO member in NATO OAE (Operation Active Endaevour). In 2006, following a decision of the Bulgarian Parliament, Drazki took part in the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), patrolling the territorial waters of Lebanon under German command. This was the first time ever the Bulgarian Navy took part in an international peacekeeping operation. The Bulgarian government purchased two Wielingen-class frigates and one Tripartite minehunter in 2007.

The Bulgarian Navy is centred in two main bases. One is near the city of Varna. The other is Atiya Naval Base, near the city of Burgas.




Personnel: 2009: 4,140 (695 officers)
Reserves 10,000

Full load displacement of the three Drazki class (-ex Belgian Wielingen class) frigates reported as 2,430 tons. All three originally commissioned in 1978. Actual transfers occured 2005 (41 Drazki), 2008 (43 Gordi) and 2009 (42 Verni). All three modernized before transfer, and further modernization (incl. landing pad for helo) is planned for 2014.

Full load displacement and length for the two Reshitelni class (Pauk I) ASW corvettes reported as 440 tons and 59,5 meters resp. Pennant numbers 13 (Reshitelni) and 14 (Bodri).

Full load displacement for corvette 43 Mulnaya reported as 455 tons.

Three -ex German Neustadt class patrol boats are also operated by the Border Police. Built in 1970 they were transferred in 2002 (525 Sozopol) and in 2004 (526 Nesebar and 524 Balchik). F l displacement 218 tons and length 38,5 meters.

There are also six Vydra class LCU, built in Bulgaria in 1974-78, which were converted to minelayers in 1992-93. Fl displacement 550 tons and length 54,8 meters. Pennant numbers 703-708.

Actual transfer of the -ex Belgian Tripartite minehunter 32 Tsibar occured in 2009.

There are also the following survey vessels:

One project 861 Moma class survey ship 401 Admiral Branimir Ormanov built in 1977. Fl displacement 1580 tons and length 73,3 meters.

Two project 612 coastal survey vessels 231 and 331 built in 1986 and 1988 resp. Fl displacement 114 tons and length 26,7 meters.

There are also the following two support tankers:

One 303 Akin completed in 1994 with f l displacement 1250 tons and length 55,4 meters.

One project 102 Mesar class 302 Atiya built in 1987 with f l displacement 3240 tons and length 97,5 meters.

There are also the two project 245 diving tenders 223 and 323 built in the mid -80s. F l displacement 112 tons and length 27,9 meters.

There are also two type 215 torpedo recovery vessels with a f l displacement of 110 tons.

Only three Mil Mi-14PL Haze A ASW helicopters are operational.

Coast defence: One battalion with six truckmounted SS-C-3 Styx twin launchers.



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