Bulgaria has officially commenced production of its first batch of “Stryker” armored combat vehicles, marking a significant milestone in the modernization of the country’s armed forces. Brigadier General Stoyan Shopov, Chief of Staff of the Bulgarian Land Forces, confirmed in an interview with the Bulgarian Army newspaper that the project is moving forward on schedule and that the initial units are expected to be delivered to the TEREM defense plant for final assembly before the end of the year.
The newly produced vehicles will undergo rigorous testing following assembly. Once certified, the first batch—consisting of combat vehicles equipped with integrated weapons and support systems—will be assigned to the 61st Mechanized Brigade, one of the Bulgarian Army’s most strategically important ground units.
This development is part of a broader defense contract signed with the United States in 2023, under which Bulgaria is set to receive a total of 183 Stryker vehicles along with 15 auxiliary platforms. The total value of the agreement is approximately 2.5 billion leva (around 1.3 billion USD), structured in phased payments. The first payment, covering ammunition procurement, was completed in 2024.
The Stryker initiative represents one of the most ambitious defense procurement efforts in Bulgaria’s recent history and is widely viewed as a step toward greater NATO interoperability and deterrence capacity on NATO’s eastern flank. The Stryker, an eight-wheeled armored vehicle used extensively by the U.S. Army, is known for its mobility, modularity, and battlefield versatility.
Beyond procurement, General Shopov also highlighted an encouraging trend in recruitment to the Land Forces. In June 2025, the number of applicants nearly doubled the available positions nationwide, with some garrisons—particularly in Yambol and Haskovo—seeing three to four candidates per vacancy. This surge in interest is seen as a reflection of growing public trust in the military and the perceived prestige of army service, particularly within the largest and most active branch of Bulgaria’s armed forces.
As Bulgaria accelerates its military modernization, the production and deployment of the Stryker vehicles will serve as both a symbolic and operational enhancement of national defense readiness. With geopolitical tensions in the Black Sea region still a concern, this program underscores Sofia’s commitment to strengthening its national defense and contributing meaningfully to NATO’s collective security.
