Bulgarian Cabinet security council: Additional funding needed to buy anti-drone systems
There is a definite need for additional funds to buy anti-drone systems, Bulgaria’s Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said after a September 18 meeting of the Cabinet security council.
It is necessary to allocate funding for the construction of video surveillance systems, for the modernisation of the process of guarding the formations by the Ministry of Defence, Stoyanov said.
Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said that the meeting had examined the security of critical infrastructure sites.
“We found serious deficiencies in terms of the presence of anti-drone systems,” Demerdzhiev said.
Stoyanov said that negotiations are underway with the company that is leading the bids submitted under the European Union’s SAFE mechanism. The expectations are for more than 10 anti-drone systems. The goal is to have contracts signed by the end of the year, and for the systems to be delivered next year.
Stoyanov said that the Ministry of Defence has taken steps toward legislative amendments to combat drones.
Regarding additional funding for anti-drone systems, Stoyanov said that he expects assistance from the Finance Ministry.
Security will be stepped up near sites where explosives and ammunition are produced.
“We discussed the condition of ammunition and explosives warehouses – we find problems both in the method of storage and in the measures taken for security and their effectiveness,” Demerdzhiev said.
(Photo: Clive Leviev-Sawyer)
