Bulgaria Approves $1.37B Stryker Combat Vehicles Buy

Bulgaria’s government has given the green light to purchase Stryker combat vehicles from the United States for approximately $1.37 billion.

The sale of 183 Stryker vehicles and related equipment to NATO ally Bulgaria was approved by the U.S. State Department earlier this month.

“When we make the first payments, the contract will go into force. From there, we are talking about deliveries starting in two years, and the contract being completed within three years,” Defense Minister Todor Tagarev said during a Bulgarian military event on September 22.

After Cabinet approval, a proposal on acquisition and its cost will be submitted to Bulgaria's National Assembly. Once lawmakers approve, the contract will be signed and ratified by the National Assembly.

“This project is important not only so that we can merge three mechanized battalion battlegroups into one brigade, but also to have interoperable equipment allowing us to join all the alliance initiatives intended for our defense,” Tagarev said.

Tagarev didn't say how many Stryker vehicles Bulgaria will get or what the contract covers.