Bulgaria's Parliament passed a bill to ratify contract to acquire ammunition for Stryker machines

The Bulgarian Parliament on August 8 adopted at second reading a draft law on ratification of the International Treaty for the Acquisition of Ammunition for Stryker Machines, submitted by the Council of Ministers on 26 July. The ratification received the approval of the leading defence committee yesterday.

"There were 125 votes in favour, 51 against and no abstentions.

The motives to the draft law state that the contract was drawn up in connection with the implementation of the priority project for the Ministry of Defence "Acquisition of basic combat equipment for the construction of battalion combat groups of the mechanised brigade".

According to the scope of the project adopted by the decision of the 49th National Assembly on 9 November 2023 - Investment Expenditure Project - a contract for the acquisition of small arms and artillery ammunition is envisaged in addition to the contract for the acquisition of the combat vehicles themselves.

The estimated value of the contract is 64,880,655 dollars. The payment scheme proposed by the American side provides for an initial deposit of $1,444,310 and deferred payment in annual instalments in the period 2025-2028, the reasoning explains. The Bulgarian Socialist Party and “Vazrazhdane” said the equipment was obsolete and therefore opposed.