U.S. Army’s 12th Combat Aviation Brigade with their Boeing CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift and Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters arrived at Bezmer Airfield, Bulgaria on Apr. 30, 2021, for Exercise Swift Response, part of DEFENDER-Europe 21.  Defender Europe is a large-scale Army-led exercise, though this year it has significant Air Force and Navy participation. Last week, for instance, […]

In the last few months, the U.S. Army has significantly expanded its activities in the Black Sea Region. On 19 November, Members of 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade (41st FAB) deployed two M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) with 2 launcher crews, comprised of six personnel, from Ramstein Air […]

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Patria’s armoured combat vehicle AMVXP has been selected for the second phase of Bulgarian vehicle acquisition program based on a tender phase. The final decision on the actual acquisition will be made after field tests and negotiations. Also, General Dynamics has proceeded to the second phase. ‘This is very good news as it is a […]

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French Nexter Group has unveiled its new infantry fighting vehicle during the HEMUS 2020 exhibition in Bulgaria. The Nexter Group along with Belgium company John Cockerill Defense (JCD) is displaying the new version of the VBCI 8×8 armored vehicle fitted with a 30mm 3030 turret at the HEMUS 2020. The two partners share the same […]

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The U.S. Department of Defense announced on Thursday an agreement worth about $512 million for F-16 Block 70 fighter jet production for the Republic of Bulgaria. This contract provides for the production of eight F-16 Block 70 aircraft (six single-seat and two double seat aircraft) to replace the ageing fleet of Bulgarian MiG-29s., according to […]

U.S. Air Force Airmen and F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing participated in the bilateral training exercise, Rapid Buzzard, with the Bulgarian Air Force, according to a recent service news release. F-16 Fighting Falcons executed a rapid deployment to Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria to conduct “hot pit” refueling and participate in […]

U.S. Army Soldiers conducted testing for the Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB) at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria. Soldiers with 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, conducted testing for the EIB, a coveted award and symbol of tradition for U.S. Soldiers who accept the difficult and sometimes thankless job of infantrymen. Established in 1944, the […]

The U.S. Army’s current main battle tank, the Abrams, is taking part in Bulgarian-hosted multinational maritime exercise Platinum Lion 19. Platinum Lion is a Bulgarian-hosted multinational maritime exercise designed to improve the operational and tactical interoperability among participating units. The training exercise allows the participating units to share military knowledge and tactics to increase the […]

Bulgaria’s government approved the purchase of eight F-16V block 70 fighter jets to replace the ageing fleet of Soviet-made MiG-29 aircraft. According to several media reports, the long-awaited Bulgarian Air Force contract worth $1,256 billion for up to six single seat and two double seat aircraft is part of the government’s effort to replace outdated Soviet-era […]

American self-propelled surface-to-air missile systems, called the  Avenger, took part in a joint live-fire exercise in Bulgaria with Soviet-made Osa and Kub mobile surface-to-air missile systems. The Avenger air defense system assigned to the 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment participated at a live-fire missile training near Shabla, Jun. 19, 2019 during exercise Shabla 19.  SHABLA 19 […]