Bulgarian Navy

In an announcement made on Friday, Flotilla Admiral Georgi Penev, Deputy Commander of the Bulgarian Navy, revealed plans for significant upgrades and modernization within the naval forces. As part of these efforts, new equipment is set to be introduced by the end of 2024, alongside the modernization of coastal formations.

Five Bulgarian sailors who were part of the crew aboard the hijacked ship "Ruen" have safely returned to Varna. The vessel, owned by Bulgaria and flying the Maltese flag, fell victim to piracy off the coast of Somalia last December. The Bulgarian Navy confirmed the sailors' safe arrival, marking a significant moment of relief for their families and the maritime community.

The Mine Counter-measures Task Group Black Sea, formed through an agreement among Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey in January, is anticipated to achieve operational readiness by April or May, according to Admiral Emil Eftimov, Chief of Defence for Bulgaria. The task group aims to enhance maritime safety and minimize shipping risks in the Black Sea region.

Bulgarian Oscar-nominated actress Maria Bakalova christened the ship "St. Cyril and Methodius", wishing the ship to carry the glory of the Bulgarian Navy and bear the name of the illustrious brothers.

The ceremony took place on the day of liberation of Bulgaria's coastal city of Varna today.

The United States and 11 NATO allies began their participation in the nine-day Breeze 19, a maritime exercise hosted by Bulgaria that included three U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft.

The exercise began Friday and is scheduled to conclude on July 21 near Varna in the Black Sea, according to a Naval news release Monday.

On 16 November, the Wielingen-class frigate Drazki, part of the Bulgarian Navy division of patrol ships for the NATO-led Mediterranean „Sea Guardian - 2018", has sailed from its home port based in the town of Burgas, in order to take part in the operation, learned BulgarianMilitary.com.

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Today, the bilateral Romanian-Bulgarian naval exercise Poseidon 2018, which this year is hosted by the Bulgarian Navy, kicks off in the town of Burgas, Bulgaria.

VARNA, Bulgaria (BulgarianMilitary.com), 16 August 2018,

Three NATO ships patrolling in the Black Sea are visiting Bourgas and Varna, reports BBC.

A flagship of the Royal Navy, a Turkish mining hunter and a Romanian minesweeper are currently building one of four Alliance ships.

Last year, a part of the group was also the Bulgarian base minesweeper Shkval.

An accident took place today about 12.30h local time with a helicopter of the Bulgarian Navy, reported BNR.

During performance of assignments from the Black Sea 2017 tactical exercise, a Panther helicopter fell into the water leaving the three crew members injured, the Ministry of Defense has said.