Bulgaria in talks with Spain for 20 counter-drone systems

Bulgaria is negotiating with Spain to acquire 20 kinetic counter-drone systems under the SAFE mechanism, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said on 3 November 2026, as quoted by Armymedia.bg and DarikNews.bg. He expressed hope that a memorandum of understanding would be signed within one to two weeks. Flank has found no independent confirmation from the Spanish side of the progress of the talks or the expected timeframe. This is a developing story and may be updated.

€80 million project announced back in October

The acquisition had been announced previously. The official transcript of the parliamentary sitting on 14 October records a statement by Stoyanov that Bulgaria had put forward an €80 million contribution to a SAFE project to acquire 20 systems — 10 mobile and 10 fixed. BTA also covered the hearing and noted Bulgaria's participation in the “Drone Edge” initiative.

At the time, the minister said a memorandum with Spain on joint procurement was still to be concluded. On 3 November, he again spoke of negotiations, this time expressing hope that the document would be signed within a week or two. This is an expression of hope, not an agreed deadline.

The €80 million is the announced contribution to the project, not a confirmed final contract price. Nor is the expected memorandum a supply contract: the one-to-two-week timeframe refers to the memorandum of understanding, not to delivery of the systems.

Kinetic systems to protect military formations

Stoyanov identifies countering unmanned aircraft as one of the Bulgarian Armed Forces' modernisation priorities. In the statement published by Armymedia.bg, he advocates kinetic systems — physically striking the target — to protect military formations during a defensive operation.

The minister draws a distinction with urban environments, where he believes solutions operating in the electromagnetic spectrum, without kinetic engagement, should be sought. He also states that no system can guarantee 100 per cent effectiveness against unmanned aircraft.

This is the minister's stated assessment of the capabilities required, not a published technical specification for the acquisition. The term “kinetic” does not reveal the specific method of engagement, the range or the types of unmanned aircraft the systems will be able to counter. The split between mobile and fixed systems likewise does not indicate how many formations or sites could be protected simultaneously.

Specific equipment and delivery schedule not announced

So far, no signed memorandum or contract has been announced. No specific equipment, manufacturer, final configuration, delivery schedule or allocation among future users has been identified. Negotiations with Spain do not in themselves mean that the equipment will be manufactured there.

The military outcome will depend not only on the number of systems but also on their ability to detect and engage targets, operator training and integration with other defensive systems. For now, Bulgaria has announced a project with a specified number of systems and a funding framework, but not an acquired capability.