Bulgaria is contemplating the acquisition of the Caesar self-propelled 155mm howitzer as a replacement for its aging fleet of Soviet-designed 2S1 “Gvozdika” 122-mm self-propelled artillery systems. The Caesar artillery system is one of two defense proposals currently under consideration as part of the European Defence Industry Reinforcement through common Procurement program, alongside the IRIS-T air defense system, as reported by Euractiv. This initiative aims to facilitate the joint procurement of defense equipment among EU member states, offering the possibility of partial reimbursements to encourage collaborative defense enhancements.
Bulgarian Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov expressed optimism about the effectiveness of Bulgaria’s involvement in the EDIRPA initiative, describing the progress achieved thus far as a significant success for the nation. The procurement of the IRIS-T defense system has already received approval from the Bulgarian parliament, while the purchase of the Caesar howitzers remains on a “reserve list of projects” awaiting further consideration.
The coordination for the Caesar acquisition is being managed in conjunction with France, while discussions regarding the IRIS-T system are being directed with Germany. The move to modernize the Bulgarian Army reflects a broader trend of defense upgrades in the face of ongoing reliance on outdated Soviet-era hardware.
As the country embarks on a series of defense projects, it anticipates that military spending will exceed 2.5 percent of its GDP within the next three years. Key programs include the procurement of 183 Stryker vehicles and more than 200 Javelin anti-tank systems from the United States, with a combined estimated cost of $1.5 billion for the vehicles and $114 million for the anti-tank systems. In addition to these acquisitions, Bulgaria’s air force is seeking to invest approximately 400 million lev (around $221.7 million) in new military surveillance radars, further illustrating the nation’s commitment to modernizing its military capabilities.
