Military of Bulgaria Totally Explained

Everything about Military Of Bulgaria totally explained

The Bulgarian Army represents the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria. Commander-in-Chief is the President of Bulgaria Georgi Parvanov. The Ministry of Defense is in charge of political leadership while military command remains in the hands of the General Staff, headed by the Chief of Staff. Operational elements of the Bulgarian Army include: Bulgarian Land Forces (army), Bulgarian Navy (navy), and the Bulgarian Air Forces (air force).
The patron saint of the Bulgarian Army is St. George, and Valor Day (May 6, also known as St. George's Day) has long been celebrated as Valor and Army Day. It is an official holiday in Bulgaria.
After the country became a NATO member in April 2004, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense has begun a new downsizing, modernization, and reform program (known as PLAN 2004) that will result in the adoption of a smaller force structure of around 50,000 personnel, based upon a rapid reaction force and two additional corps headquarters, all with subordinate brigades. As of 1 January 2008 the military of Bulgaria is to disband its compulsory military service (External Link

History of the Bulgarian Army

Major conflicts in the modern history of Bulgaria:

For information on military conflicts in the more distant past see History of Bulgaria.

General Staff

The Bulgarian Armed Forces are Headquartered in Sofia, where most of the general staff is based. Currently headed by Chief of Staff General Zlatan Kirilov Stoykov, the General Staff is responsible for operational command of the Bulgarian Army and its 3 major branches. Deputies: Vice Admiral Petar Petrov, General Atanas Zaprianov, General Dimitar Zehtinov. Chief commanders:

Land Forces: Major General Ivan Dobrev

Air Force: Major General Simeon Simeonov

Naval Forces: Rear admiral Minko Kavaldziev

Land Forces

Active and Reserve Forces. Their main functions include deterrence, defense, peace support and crisis management, humanitarian and rescue missions, as well as social functions within Bulgarian society.
   The Active Forces mainly have peacekeeping and defensive duties, and are further divided into Deployment Forces, Immediate Reaction, and Main Defense Forces. The Reserve Forces consists of Enhancement Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, and Training Grounds. They deal with planning and reservist preparation, armaments and equipment storage, training of formations for active forces rotation or increase in personnel.
   During peacetime the Land Forces maintain permanent combat and mobilization readiness. They become part of multinational military formations in compliance with international treaties Bulgaria is a signatory to, participate in the preparation of the population, the national economy and the maintenance of wartime reserves and the infrastructure of the country for defense.
   In times of crisis the Land Forces' main tasks relate to participation in operations countering terrorist activities and defense of strategic facilities (such as nuclear power plants and major industrial facilities), assisting the security forces in proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, illegal armaments traffic and international terrorism.
   In case of low- and medium-intensity military conflict the Active Forces that are part of the Land Forces participate in carrying out the initial tasks for the defense of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country.
   In case of a military conflict of high intensity the Land Forces, together with the Air Force and the Navy, form the defense group of the Bulgarian Army aiming at countering aggression and protection of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country.
   The Bulgarian Land Forces are scheduled to become fully professional by 1st of January 2008, bringing an end to mandatory military service. The Bulgarian Air Force and Naval Forces are already fully professional.

National guard unit

The National guard unit of Bulgaria is successor of the personal guards of knyaz Alexander I, founded in 1879. On 12 July the guards escort the Bulgarian knyaz for the first time. That's why 12 July is the official holiday of the National guard unit. Throughout the years the structure of the guards has changed from convoy to squadron, regiment and after 1942 - division. Today it includes military units for army salute and wind orchestra.
In 2001 the National guard unit is approved for official military unit of the bulgarian army and one of the symbols of the state authority along with the flag, the coat of arms and the national anthem.

Inventory of the Bulgarian armed forces

Infantry weapons

AR-M1 (Bulgarian-made enhanced assault rifle built off AK-74 platform)

AT-2 Swatter ATGMs

AT-3 Sagger ATGMs

AT-4 Spigot ATGMs (222)

AT-5 Spandrel ATGMs

SA-16/SA-18 MANPADS

SA-7 Grail MANPADS (locally-built modified version Strela-2M)

Armored vehicles

432 tanks T-72M1/T-72M2 (External Link

)

~400 tanks T-55 (in storage or used for training; some in active service)

60 BRDM-1 and BRDM-2- some in active service

24 BRDM-2 Konkurs (dedicated anti-tank vehicle armed with 4x AT-5 Spandrel)

93 BMP-23

80 BMP-1P

230 BTR-60

600 MT-LB (mostly Bulgarian-made)

7 M1117 (6 for the Bulgarian mission in Afganistan and 1 for the brigade in Stara Zagora, more to be delivered)

TV-62M armored recovery vehicles, made by a modified T-62 tank hull with parts of a T-55 turret.

Artillery

122 mm BM-21 multiple-launch rocket system (221)

152 mm D-20 towed guns (190)

130 mm M-46 towed guns (73)

122 mm M-30 towed howitzers (70)

122 mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers (500+)

152 mm 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled howitzers (5, out of service)

120 mm 2S12 Tundzha self-propelled mortars (247)

100 mm SU-100 self-propelled anti-tank guns (68, in storage)

120 mm 2S11 self-propelled guns (359)

Air defence equipment

SA-2 Guideline missiles

SA-3 Goa missiles (approx. 30 missile launch units)

SA-4 Ganef missiles (non-op, stored)

SA-5 Gammon missiles (1 battalion)

SA-6 Gainful missiles (approx. 20 missile launch units)

SA-8 Gecko self-propelled air defence missile systems (approx. 24 missile launch units)

SA-9 Gaskin self-propelled air defence missile systems (non-op, stored)

SA-10 Grumble air defence missile systems (2 batteries with each 5 missile launch units)

SA-13 Gopher self-propelled air defence missile systems (approx. 20 missile launch units)

various types of AA cannons

ZSU-23-4 (27)
ZU-23-2 (128)
S-60 (dozens)

Ballistic missile systems

SS-21 Scarab-B tactical ballistic missile complex (approx. 15 launchers), 120 km range

Navy

Romeo class sub Slava) are now docked and have been out of operation for some time. 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 after being renamed to the BG Druzki the frigate serves as the flagship of the Bulgarian Navy. In 2006, following a decision of the Bulgarian Parliament, Druzki 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 plans to purchase two more Wielingen-class frigates ([F-910]-Wielingen and [F-911]-Westdiep will be delivered in summer 2008). Also one Tripartite minehunter is on order.
The Bulgarian Navy is centered in two main bases. One is near the city of Varna. The other is Atiya, near the city of Bourgas.

Naval Aircraft inventory

At this time the Navy's only aircraft comprise 12 Mil Mi-14PL helicopters for anti-submarine patrol, search and rescue, and other naval support tasks located near Varna ! ignore="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes |

- | Aero L-39ZA Albatros | | advanced trainer/light attack aircraft | | 12 | |

- | Alenia C-27J Spartan | / | transport | | 1 || 4 more under delivery | |

- | Antonov An-24 Coke | | transport | | 2 | |

- | Antonov An-26 Curl | | transport | | 3 | |

- | Antonov An-30 Clank | | aerial survey | | 1 | |

- | Bell 206 | | utility helicopter | | 6 | |

- | Eurocopter Cougar | | transport helicopter | AS532 | 7 || 5 under delivery, 4 in CSAR configuration | |

- | Eurocopter Panther | | naval helicopter | AS565 | || 6 under delivery for the Naval Aviation Service, to be operated onboard the new multirole corvettes | |

- | Mil Mi-17 Hip-H | | transport helicopter | | 18 | |

- | Pilatus PC-9 | | trainer/light attack | PC-9M | 12 | |

- | Pilatus PC-12 | | utility transport | | 1 | |

- | Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot | | close support
lead-in trainer | Su-25
Su-25UB | 28
4 | |}

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