Bulgaria plans to create a service center for Stryker armored personnel carriers
2 October, 2023 Stryker armored personnel carrier during maintenance. Photo by U.S. Army
The Bulgarian government plans to establish a maintenance center for American Stryker armored fighting vehicles. This is reported by Naroden Liberalism. In the future, the maintenance of armored personnel carriers of this type may be carried out at the enterprises of the state-owned company Terem, which specializes in the repair of military equipment.
In addition to servicing the Stryker for the Bulgarian army, the company will also be able to provide maintenance for vehicles from the armed forces of other countries.
Stryker armored personnel carriers of the U.S. military during exercises. Photo credits: U.S. Army
As it became known in early September 2023, the U.S.
Department of State approved the sale of 183 Stryker armored personnel carriers to Bulgaria in various versions. The total value of the order is estimated at £1.5 billion, including the logistics, training of technical personnel and creation of the relevant infrastructure. The potential sale includes the supply of the following vehicles:
- 90 XM1296 Dragoon Armored Personnel Carriers;
- 17 M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicle;
- 9 M1132 Engineer Squad Vehicles;
- 33 M1130 Commander Vehicles;
- 24 M1133 Medical Evacuation Vehicles;
- 10 M1135 Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicles.
Due to this order, Terem's management wants to receive an additional package of investments to modernize its repair sites.
In addition, the company will be able to increase the total turnover of equipment that will be repaired and modernized.
Armored vehicles undergoing repair and modernization at the Terem enterprise. Photo credits: the Ministry of Defense of Bulgaria
Nevertheless, the Ivaylo plant in the Bulgarian capital is likely to become a potential service center for Stryker armored vehicles. The plant also intends to start producing spare parts to ensure the combat capability of these vehicles.
As Militarnyi previously reported, Lockheed Martin signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense of Bulgaria for the production of the second batch of F-16 fighter jets.
The company has signed a fixed-price contract for the production of eight F-16V Block 70/72 fighter jets.
The deal is estimated at £151.3 million.