“The maritime coordination element will enable us to be maximally informed with respect to everything taking place in the Black Sea region.” This was the statement made today, 20 July 2020, by the Minister of Defense Krasimir Karakachanov for journalists in Varna.

Minister Karakachanov and the Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov visited the Maritime Coordination Element for the Black Sea as well as Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy. The Ambassador of the USA, HE Hero Mustafa, the Ambassador of Romania, HE Ion Galea and the Ambassador of Georgia, HE Tamara Liluashvili, also took part in this visit. They were briefed on the capabilities and tasks of the Naval Coordination Element, observed a demonstration on the use of the capabilities provided by boats type "RHIB-7m, and examined Drazki frigate.

“Through this visit, the ambassadors also express their solidarity with the efforts Bulgaria makes towards establishing this maritime coordination center,” the Minister of Defence commented.

He also told reporters that there was no delay due to the corona virus in the work on the project for the new F-16 fighter aircraft: "In a letter from the Pentagon and the contractor Lockheed Martin, we were assured that the pandemic did not delay the implementation of the contract."

The Minister of Defense, the Chief of Defense and the Ambassadors visited Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy where they examined the educational-technical facilities. The President of the Naval Academy, Flotilla Admiral Professor D.Sc. Boyan Mednikarov, acquainted them with the specialties and the career prospects of the Academy’s graduates in the field of maritime military and civil affairs.

Defence Minister Krasimir Karakachanov and Defence Chief Admiral Eftimov expressed their very high opinion of the level of training of the Navy as demonstrated today within the national naval exercise with international participation Breeze 2020.

“Our Navy is always ready to face challenges. The level of training of our seamen is very good and it will become even better once we’ve implemented the project for the acquisition of two new multipurpose patrol vessels and we’ve completed the modernization of the two frigates,” Defence Minister Krasimir Karakachanov told the media after nearly two hours at sea.

Minister Karakachanov reminded them that the German company Lürssen was the contractor selected to build the two new modular patrol vessels. “The negotiations on the contract are underway and it is expected to be signed in October,” Minister Karakachanov explained, adding that both ships are going to be built in Bulgaria. He pointed out that one of the conditions the bidders had to meet was that at least one of the vessels be built in a Bulgarian shipyard. He further clarified that “the fact that both ships are going to be built here means that about 20% of the project’s budget will go back to Bulgaria in the form of salaries, health insurance and social security payments, etc.”

“A good year for the Navy. In June we performed experimental practice missile fire with our Rubezh coastal anti-ship missile system (NATO codification SSC-3 Styx) for the first time in 18 years. The exercise whose DV Day we are attending today is unfolding very well according to all assessments. The seamen showed great progress in working out the serials displayed. We are showing that we are interoperable,” said Defence Chief Admiral Emil Eftimov.

What Admiral Eftimov identified as being of key importance was the leadership of the task force, executed by Flotilla Admiral Velko Velkov, commander of the combatant and auxiliary ship flotilla, and the interaction with U.S. Naval aircraft. Admiral Eftimov thanked Navy Commander Rear Admiral Kiril Mihaylov for the consistent effort invested, and went on to thank the crew of the Gordi frigate, who managed to prepare the vessel for the tasks set within a very short time.

“All of the tasks to be performed at sea were accomplished in full,” said RADM Kiril Mihaylov, Navy Commander, referring to this year's naval exercise Breeze 2020. He was also satisfied with the performance of the service members during the exercise and was pleased to note that today, at the DV and Media Day, the crews managed to demonstrate a good portion of the serials practised.

The activities performed today focused on safety and security at sea and comprised, inter alia, handling a commercial ship accident, rescuing people in distress, cleaning up an oil spill, extinguishing a fire on board of a ship, evacuation of an injured service member, taking control of a seized commercial vessel. Other events the distinguished visitors also saw included a demonstration of firing a MANPAD against an aerial target, firing from AS565MB Panther helicopter against a sea target, a submarine attack, and employment of anti-submarine bombs.

Rumen Radev, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria, was also among the distinguished visitors and viewed the demonstrations from the board of the Gordi frigate, together with representatives of the central and local government, high officers, and other guests.

With regard to the frequent public speculations and false suggestions about the conditions under which the Bulgarian pilots have been seconded to be trained in the USA, we provide the following information.

The Bulgarian pilots - one Major, two Captains and one Senior Lieutenant - are seconded under the terms of the Ordinance on the long-term business trips abroad.

The income of the servicemen having the military rank "Senior Lieutenant" under the Ordinance is equal to the one received by the servicemen with the rank of "Captain".

Depending on the military rank, the daily funds as per the Ordinance are as follows:
- for a Captain - 63 US dollars per day;
- for a Major - 72 US dollars per day.
Thus the following are formed:
- $ 1890 per Captain per month;
- $ 2160 per Major per month.

In the event that the serviceman's wife makes a decision to accompany her husband to the United States, the Ministry of Defense pays the serviceman additionally $ 432 per month.

In case the serviceman decides to have his children with him in the United States, the Ministry of Defence pays this serviceman $ 216 per month for each child.

Each month, a Major's family of three would have $ 2,808 secondment funds in addition to the serviceman's salary.

In order to cover the accommodation costs, a Major can have up to 2376 US dollars, and a Captain - up to 2079 US dollars per month.

Apart from the above quoted amounts, each officer and his family members receive $ 1,674 on an annual basis for annual health insurance.

In addition, the Ministry of Defence pays up to $ 4,050 in annual tuition fees for each serviceman’s child who attends an American school.

Apart from the above, the Ministry of Defence pays for the two-way airline flight tickets of the officers and of their family members accompanying them, including the domestic airline tickets in case the serviceman is transferred from one training location to another.

In conclusion - only the annual secondment funds for a family of two, of a Major and his wife, amount to 63,792 US dollars, exceeding the average annual income per capita in the United States / which according to official data for 2018 is 54,579 US dollars /.

Apart from this amount of 63,792 US dollars, the seconded Bulgarian pilots continue to receive the full amount of their monthly salary throughout the whole period of their training in the United States.

As it becomes evident, the Ministry of Defence has taken care to provide all the necessary conditions required for the psychological ease, comfort and normal family environment of the Bulgarian pilots so that they can fully focus on training to fly the F-16 aircraft.

Today, June 19th, the corvette Reshitelni and an AS 565MB Panther helicopter of the Bulgarian Navy took part in a joint exercise of the PASSEX type. It was carried out in international waters, in the Western Part of the Black Sea. The exercise is comprised in the 2020 U.S.-Bulgarian Training Plan. An invitation for participation was extended by the U.S. 6th Fleet to the Bulgarian Navy and to the Navies of Ukraine, Turkey, and Romania.

The objective of the exercise was to enhance interoperability with NATO Navies, to improve mutual understanding, and to improve the training of crews at sea. The following techniques and procedures were practised during the passing exercise (PASSEX): tactical manoeuvring; data exchange for surface and subsurface picture compilation; and exercising ship's weapon control teams in tracking, acquisition and air defence against attacking air targets.

The U.S. assets taking part in the PASSEX were the destroyer USS Porter, the dock landing ship USS Oak Hill, and a P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. Romania participated with the frigate Regina Maria, whereas Turkey brought the corvette Kinaliada and a maritime patrol aircraft.

Immediately following the conclusion of the regular meeting of NATO Defence Ministers on June 18th, eleven Member States of the Alliance, including Bulgaria, signed a Letter of Intent (LOI), by means of which they joined the NATO Initiative for multinational cooperation in the field of pilot training in Europe (NATO Flight Training in Europe (NFTE)). For Bulgaria, the LOI was signed by Defence Minister Krasimir Karakachanov.

The initiative aims to establish a network of linked national facilities with standardised training syllabi, which will provide shared pilot training capacities. Bulgarian pilots will be able to train in the countries which are signatories to the Memorandum.

For the purposes of pilot training, Bulgaria will make available for international use the Dolna Mitropolia Air Force Academy, airspace, and firing ranges for practice on ground and aerial targets, and will provide opportunities for joint practice on GBAD systems. In addition, the N. Y. Vaptsarov Naval Academy will offer drone pilot training courses.