On October 7, 2024, the German company Diehl Defence announced that Bulgaria had purchased its IRIS-T SLM ground-based air defense system, joining 20 other countries that utilize the IRIS-T family. Of these, nine countries, including Bulgaria, have chosen to employ the IRIS-T for ground-based air defense purposes.
This acquisition is part of Bulgaria’s participation in the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), which seeks to enhance air defense capabilities across Europe and within NATO. The procurement also includes options for Bulgaria to acquire additional IRIS-T SLM and SLX units, providing flexibility for further integration with the ESSI.
The contract was signed at the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology, and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) in Koblenz. Diehl Defence CEO Helmut Rauch recently met with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, Bulgarian Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov, and German Ambassador to Bulgaria Irene Maria Plank to discuss bilateral defense cooperation within the ESSI framework. This follows the Bulgarian Parliament’s approval on August 6, 2024, ratifying the purchase of one IRIS-T SLM fire unit valued at €182 million (approximately $199 million), exclusive of VAT.
The contract allows Bulgaria to purchase up to five additional SLM fire units and one SLX unit by 2032. Part of the acquisition cost will be funded through compensation for military equipment donations that Bulgaria made to Ukraine in 2024. Bulgaria anticipates additional compensation for further donations planned for 2025. At the time of this announcement, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense had not responded to questions regarding funding specifics or compensation arrangements.