Bulgaria has taken delivery of the first Stryker armoured vehicles ordered under its military modernisation program, with the Ministry of Defence confirming the arrival of an initial batch of five vehicles at the port of Burgas.
According to the ministry, cited by Turkish media, the shipment represents a tangible step toward bringing Bulgaria’s land forces in line with NATO standards. The vehicles were supplied under intergovernmental agreements with the United States and Canada. Officials stressed that the program is aimed at replacing legacy Soviet-era platforms and improving interoperability with allied forces operating within multinational formations.
The Defence Ministry also described the Stryker initiative as more than a procurement project, calling it part of a broader industrial and operational transformation. Around $9.3 million has been invested in modernising assembly lines, constructing new infrastructure, and training specialised technical personnel.
Following unloading in Burgas, the armoured vehicles are being transported to the TEREM Ivailo EOOD facility, where final assembly, systems integration, and functional verification will be carried out. Under a contract with General Dynamics Land Systems, the Bulgarian facility will be responsible for testing internal communications systems, vehicle control systems, fire-control interfaces, onboard weapons components, and radio communication systems.
Under the signed agreement, Bulgaria is expected to receive a total of 198 armoured and support vehicles, including 183 platforms from the Stryker family, along with heavy support assets.
The Stryker family, developed by General Dynamics Land Systems, is built on an eight-wheel platform with a combat weight ranging from 18 to 20 tons. The vehicles are powered by a Caterpillar C7 diesel engine producing approximately 350 horsepower, enabling speeds of more than 90 km/h and an operational range of about 500 kilometres.
The XM1296 Dragoon variant designated for Bulgaria is equipped with a stabilised 30-mm cannon.
By Tamilla Hasanova
