> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.adriadefense.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Bulgaria Says Drone Demand Is Rising as Ammunition Exports Decline - URL: https://www.adriadefense.com/bulgaria-says-drone-demand-is-rising-as-ammunition-exports-decline/ - Published: 2026-11-15T07:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-15T07:00:00.000Z - Description: Bulgaria's prime minister says ammunition exports linked to Ukraine are declining as drone demand rises, highlighting pressure on manufacturers to diversify and adopt NATO standards. - Author: AdriaDefense Desk - Tags: Bulgaria, CEE, Drones, Defense Industry, Artillery Ammunition, Industry Bulgaria's defense industry is experiencing a shift in demand as the war in Ukraine increasingly favors unmanned systems alongside traditional ammunition, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said on November 13. Speaking in Dublin, Radev acknowledged that Bulgarian defense manufacturers had benefited from exceptionally strong demand for artillery ammunition during the early years of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, particularly in 2022 and 2023\. However, he said exports linked to Ukraine had subsequently declined as the conflict evolved and demand for drones expanded. The comments raise important questions about the future of Bulgaria's established ammunition manufacturers and their ability to adapt to changing battlefield requirements. ## Traditional ammunition exports face changing demand Bulgaria has been one of Europe's important suppliers of Soviet-standard ammunition, including artillery rounds used by Ukrainian forces. Its industrial base includes manufacturers such as VMZ Sopot, Arsenal and Dunarit, whose products have traditionally served customers operating Soviet-designed military equipment. According to Radev, the exceptionally high export volumes recorded during the earlier stages of the war have not been sustained. He attributed the decline partly to the technological transformation of warfare, particularly the growing importance of unmanned aerial systems. The prime minister did not provide detailed export figures during his remarks, and the reported decline should not be interpreted as evidence that global demand for artillery ammunition has collapsed. Instead, his comments suggest a changing composition of defense demand, in which drones, electronic warfare and precision systems are becoming increasingly important alongside conventional munitions. Radev also distinguished between government transfers from military stockpiles and commercial exports. He reiterated that Bulgaria no longer supplies weapons or ammunition directly from its armed forces' inventories to Ukraine. Bulgarian manufacturers, meanwhile, continue selling to commercial partners in other countries, meaning that the destination of individual products may differ from the immediate buyer's location. ## Bulgaria faces pressure to modernize ammunition production The shift is not limited to drones. On November 12, Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov called for the country's ammunition industry to move toward NATO-standard production, particularly 155 mm artillery rounds. He pointed to the continued reliance on 122 mm and 152 mm ammunition and argued that Bulgaria needs to strengthen its ability to manufacture products compatible with NATO requirements. Stoyanov said more than €200 million was expected to be spent on this ammunition category, highlighting the potential domestic market for manufacturers capable of adapting their production lines. This creates two parallel industrial challenges: modernizing conventional ammunition production while developing capabilities in newer technologies. As [AdriaDefense previously reported](https://www.adriadefense.com/bulgaria-sets-30-month-target-for-rheinmetall-ammunition-plant/), Bulgaria is pursuing a major industrial project with Germany's Rheinmetall and state-owned VMZ, involving NATO-standard artillery ammunition and energetic materials. The project illustrates why conventional ammunition remains strategically important even as unmanned systems gain a larger role on the battlefield. ## Domestic drone industry gains strategic importance Bulgarian companies are also pursuing opportunities in unmanned systems, including reconnaissance drones, interceptors and counter-drone technologies. Earlier this year, [OPTIX and FragaX announced a partnership](https://www.adriadefense.com/optix-jsc-and-fragax-form-strategic-partnership-on-uas-development-in-bulgaria/) covering the development of unmanned systems, including surveillance platforms and loitering technologies. Such initiatives could help diversify an industry historically associated with ammunition, small arms and established military production technologies. Sofia is also increasing its attention to counter-drone capabilities. AdriaDefense [reported on November 13](https://www.adriadefense.com/bulgaria-advances-eur410m-military-vehicle-plan-and-counter-drone-procurement/) that the government had advanced plans for joint counter-UAS procurement with Spain. The growing number of drone-related projects suggests that Bulgarian manufacturers and defense authorities are responding to the operational lessons emerging from Ukraine. ## A changing market, not the end of artillery The wider challenge for Bulgaria is how to preserve its established ammunition manufacturing capacity while responding to demand for new systems. Artillery ammunition remains essential for Ukraine and European militaries, particularly as NATO countries replenish inventories and invest in additional production capacity. However, competition is increasingly shaped by production flexibility, NATO compatibility, manufacturing costs and the ability to integrate new technologies. Companies specializing in legacy ammunition may therefore face growing pressure to modernize, diversify or establish partnerships with manufacturers developing unmanned systems. Radev's remarks offer an indication of how Bulgaria's government views these changes, but detailed export statistics will be needed to establish their full commercial impact. For Bulgaria's defense industry, the central question is whether its manufacturers can translate decades of ammunition production experience into a more diversified industrial position as European defense requirements continue to evolve.