Bulgaria Advances Five More IRIS-T SLM Systems Under €1.1B Plan
Bulgaria has advanced plans for five additional IRIS-T air defense systems under a €1.106 billion SAFE-backed program covering six systems and support equipment.
Bulgaria has advanced plans to acquire five additional IRIS-T air defense systems after the government approved an updated investment project on October 7 and submitted it to the National Assembly for approval.
The expanded program combines Bulgaria's already contracted IRIS-T SLM system with a second phase covering five additional systems, missiles, initial logistics support and additional equipment. The total value of both phases is €1.106 billion and the project is planned to receive financing through the European Union Security Action for Europe, or SAFE, instrument.
The decision does not yet constitute a signed contract for the additional five systems. Implementation requires a program agreement between the Bulgarian and German defense ministries and an amendment to Bulgaria's existing supply contract with Diehl Defence. Prime Minister Rumen Radev said on October 7 that he expects a contract within weeks.
Existing IRIS-T contract will also be modified
Bulgaria already has a contract covering one IRIS-T SLM fire unit. The original agreement was valued at €182,114,311 excluding VAT and included options for five additional IRIS-T SLM units and one longer-range IRIS-T SLX unit through 2032.
Under the updated project, Bulgaria plans to replace a multisensor tracker included in the original system configuration with alternative equipment and shorten the delivery timeline.
The change will reduce the value of the existing contract from €182,114,311 to €180,605,928, according to information released by the Bulgarian government press service.
The second phase will add five air defense systems alongside guided missiles, warranty coverage, initial logistics support and additional equipment.
The combined value of the first and second phases is €1,106,466,933. That figure should not be interpreted as the price of the five additional systems alone because it also incorporates the revised first phase and supporting equipment.
SAFE financing supports wider Bulgarian air defense modernization
The project will be financed through SAFE, the European Union mechanism designed to provide long-term loans for joint and coordinated defense procurement.
The European Union approved up to €3.262 billion in SAFE financial assistance for Bulgaria in February 2026, including €489.255 million in pre-financing.
Bulgaria has increasingly used the framework to accelerate modernization programs as it replaces Soviet-era equipment and strengthens NATO-compatible air defense capabilities.
The updated IRIS-T project also provides for long-term industrial cooperation and construction of infrastructure needed to operate the systems and store and maintain their missiles. Bulgarian authorities will additionally examine opportunities to acquire unmanned aircraft systems connected with the new air defense units.
AdriaDefense previously reported on Bulgaria’s air defense gaps and its existing IRIS-T expansion options following drone incursions into Bulgarian airspace.
Bulgaria is moving from option to procurement
The October 7 decision represents a significant step beyond the option contained in Bulgaria's original IRIS-T agreement.
The additional systems still require parliamentary approval and contractual implementation, but the government has now incorporated the five-system expansion into an updated investment project with identified SAFE financing and a defined mechanism for concluding the procurement with Germany and Diehl Defence.
If completed, Bulgaria would operate six IRIS-T SLM systems under the two phases of the program.
How many IRIS-T systems does Bulgaria plan to acquire?
Bulgaria has already contracted one IRIS-T SLM system and is seeking parliamentary approval for a second phase covering five additional systems, potentially bringing the total to six.
How much is Bulgaria's IRIS-T program worth?
The combined value of the revised first phase and planned second phase is €1,106,466,933. The amount includes the already contracted system, five additional systems, missiles, logistics support and related equipment.
Has Bulgaria signed the contract for five additional IRIS-T systems?
Not yet. The Bulgarian government approved the updated investment project on October 7, 2026, but parliamentary approval and additional agreements with Germany and Diehl Defence are still required.
What is financing the acquisition?
Bulgaria plans to finance the expanded procurement through the European Union SAFE defense financing mechanism.
