Budget Committee ratifies contract for Stryker combat vehicles

Parliament’s Budget Committee ratified the contract for the acquisition of Sryker infantry fighting vehicles from the United States for the construction of battalion battlegroups of the Army.

The contract provides for the delivery of 198 combat and support vehicles, training, simulators, logistics worth BGN 2.1 billion. The main delivery of the combat vehicles will take place in 2026 and 2027.

The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) voted 'no', arguing that the country has already paid for F16 Block70 fighter jets and have received nothing from the US to date. Furthermore, there are no penalties on the deals for both the aircraft and the combat vehicles. “Vazrazhdane” said they were also against.

The Budget Committee also approved additional spending on the contract to acquire two multi-purpose modular patrol vessels. The reason is to replace the communication and location systems of the ships under construction in Bulgaria with more modern ones at a cost of BGN 10 million.

Thus, the total value of the project increases to BGN 995 million. The first ship is already on water and being completed.