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Bulgaria Signs Contract for Purchase of Multi-Role Patrol Ships with Germany's Fr. Lurssen Werft, It Is One of Three Large Projects for Armed Forces Modernization
November 12 (BTA) - On Thursday Bulgaria signed a contract for the
acquisition of two multi-role patrol ships for the Bulgarian Navy with Fr. Lurssen
Werft GmbH & Co. KG. It is one of three big modernization projects of the
Bulgarian Armed Forces along with the purchase of F-16 fighter jets earlier this year
and the upcoming purchase of armoured vehicles for the Land Forces.
The financial framework of the patrol ships project is 984 million leva after VAT. The ships are due to be delivered in 2025 and 2026. The contract also includes training of the crew and technical staff.
The ships will be equipped to participate in a wide range of naval operations of NATO and the EU. They will make the Bulgarian Navy capable of combatting marine, submarine and aerial enemy.
In his remarks after the signing of the contract, Defence Minister Krassimir Karakachanov said that Bulgaria has just made "the right step in the modernization of its Navy". He expressed hope that cooperation with Lurssen will not end with the signing of the contract but is only starting "because a lot of work needs to be done in the area of industrial cooperation".
Lurssen Managing Director Dirk Malgowski said that it is a perfect day for the Bulgarian Navy and an important day for his company as they are signing a contract with a partner country and a NATO member.
He said the deal is also important for Bulgaria because the ships will be built in Bulgaria, by the Delfin shipyard.
Malgowski expects this to be a long-term cooperation with more ships to be built there, including for export.
The signing ceremony was also attended by Bulgaria's Chief of Defence, Admiral Emil Eftimov, the Navy Commander, Rear Admiral Kiril Mihailov, and German Ambassador Christoph Eichhorn. LN/RI
