Two bulgarian unmanned systems are already monitoring the Black sea, with a third in preparation

Bulgaria is stepping up surveillance over the Black Sea with NATO’s assistance, and a third Bulgarian unmanned system with enhanced reconnaissance capabilities is expected to be deployed by the end of the week. Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov announced this at a briefing on security measures introduced following attacks on commercial vessels near the Bulgarian coast.

According to Stoyanov, the decision to deploy an allied reconnaissance aircraft was taken jointly with NATO after Bulgaria requested additional surveillance capabilities and support for protecting its airspace. “The decision was made jointly. Our allies reacted very quickly. They offered and sent an aircraft with precisely the capabilities needed to conduct aerial reconnaissance”, he said.

The minister stressed that the aircraft should be regarded as part of the Alliance’s collective capabilities, regardless of the national flag under which it operates. “The fact that it carries the flag of a particular country does not mean that the asset is not an allied one. It operates in our airspace within the framework of NATO”, he explained.

Stoyanov said the Bulgarian Armed Forces are currently using two unmanned systems to monitor the country’s territorial waters. One belongs to the Joint Special Operations Command, while the other is operated by the Land Forces. “Their missions involve aerial reconnaissance. We monitor our territorial waters in different areas, rotating the systems between them”, he said.

A third system is expected to join them by the end of the week. It will have significantly more advanced technical capabilities. “It has much greater reconnaissance capabilities, using optical, infrared and radar equipment. Our capabilities are increasing every day”, Stoyanov noted.

However, he warned that establishing a reliable surveillance system capable of detecting and countering threats could not be achieved in a short period of time.