2024-03-02 04:50:13
“Marine drones and remotely controlled systems are the future in the development of cooperation between the Bulgarian and Belgian navies”. This was stated by the Chief of Defense Admiral Emil Eftimov, who is visiting the Kingdom of Belgium at the invitation of his colleague Admiral Michel Hoffmann, the press center of the Ministry of Defense.
During the visit, the possibilities for military-technical and industrial cooperation for the development of defense capabilities between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Kingdom of Belgium were discussed, with an emphasis on the maritime domain in view of the support provided to our country by the Belgian Navy. . Admiral Eftimov was familiarized on the spot with the functions, tasks and opportunities provided by the NATO Center for Research, Development and Improvement of Sea Mine Countermeasures and Disposal in Ostend. Presentations were also made to the Chief of Defense on “Tripartite” class “mine hunter” ships and possibilities for their modernization, as well as a new generation of mine countermeasures ships with the ability to remotely detect and destroy sea mines. During the visit, state offices and institutions contributing to the security and defense of the Kingdom of Belgium were visited, including the Center for Naval Operations and the Interagency Maritime Command Post. A meeting was also held with leading manufacturers of high-tech products and robotic systems for the needs of maritime navigation and aviation, where the latest generation of solutions for countering technologies with a potentially destructive effect, as well as other products produced by the local defense industry, were presented.
“The new reality on a global scale requires more large-scale investments in defense, as well as a more comprehensive and flexible approach to common financing of the Union’s deterrence and defense capabilities,” Admiral Eftimov pointed out during the bilateral talks. He presented the challenges facing the armed forces of the countries of the NATO’s eastern flank, as a result of the war in Ukraine, as well as the resulting additional tasks of building the strategic infrastructure for the reception, accommodation and subsequent movement of allied troops and for the provision of host country support. be used in the subsequent development of doctrines and the development of military capabilities with the intensive use of drones and digital technologies. Admiral Eftimov drew attention to the commitments fulfilled by Bulgaria in synchronizing the national and the Union defense plans. He emphasized that the ambitious plans laid down in the Program for development until 2032, exceed 2% of GDP for defense spending, which condition our country has already fulfilled.
The official visit ended with a visit to the “Castor” class patrol ship, which has been in service with the Belgian Navy since 2014.