First US-Made Stryker Armored Vehicles Delivered to Bulgaria Under NATO Modernization Plan.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Defense confirmed on February 15, 2026, that the first five Stryker armored vehicles ordered under its modernization program arrived at the Port of Burgas a day earlier. The delivery signals tangible progress in Sofia’s effort to align its land forces structure and equipment with NATO standards.

Bulgaria’s Ministry of Defense announced that the first shipment of Stryker armored combat vehicles reached the Port of Burgas on February 14, marking a significant milestone in the restructuring of the Bulgarian Land Forces. The initial batch includes five Stryker vehicles delivered from the United States and Canada under intergovernmental agreements tied to Sofia’s long-planned modernization strategy. Officials described the arrival as a concrete step toward standardizing equipment with NATO allies, replacing legacy Soviet era platforms and enhancing interoperability within multinational formations.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

U.S. Army M1296 Stryker Dragoon from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment establishes a screening position during Dragoon Ready 23 at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, January 27, 2023. Bulgaria’s future fleet will include 90 XM1296 Dragoon variants armed with a 30 mm cannon. (Picture source: U.S DoD)

The arrival follows statements made on January 13, 2026, when Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov announced Bulgaria’s readiness to receive the vehicles and personally inspected the TEREM Ivailo facility in Veliko Tarnovo together with Deputy Defense Minister Adelina Nikolova. At that stage, the ministry emphasized that the Stryker program should be understood not only as a procurement effort, but as an industrial and operational transformation. A government investment of approximately 17 million leva has been directed toward preparing the site, including refurbishment of assembly halls, construction of new infrastructure, and the training of technical personnel.

After offloading in Burgas, the vehicles are transported to TEREM Ivailo EOOD for final assembly, systems integration, and functional verification. Under the contract with General Dynamics Land Systems, the Bulgarian facility is responsible for checking internal communications networks, vehicle control systems, fire control interfaces, onboard weapons management, and radio equipment before joint handover procedures. Once assembly and inspection are complete, the vehicles are to be transferred through a bilateral process that involves U.S. Army oversight before final acceptance by the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense and the conduct of national trials, including live-fire testing. Only after this sequence will the platforms formally enter service with the 61st Mechanized Brigade based in Karlovo.

The same maritime shipment also carries logistical equipment and materials associated with Bulgaria’s F-16 Block 70 fighter aircraft acquisition, reflecting parallel modernization tracks across domains. In addition, eight further Stryker vehicles have been delivered under a separate US-backed arrangement at no cost and will be dedicated to training within the 61st Mechanized Brigade, allowing crews to build proficiency while the core fleet progresses through acceptance procedures.

Under the signed agreement, Bulgaria is to receive a total package of 198 armored and support vehicles, including 183 Stryker Family of Vehicles complemented by heavy support assets. The fleet will notably include 90 XM1296 Infantry Carrier Vehicles Dragoon, alongside M1126 infantry carriers, M1132 engineer squad vehicles, M1130 command vehicles, M1133 medical evacuation vehicles, and M1135 nuclear, biological, and chemical reconnaissance vehicles. Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck transporters, recovery systems, and load-handling vehicles are also part of the package, addressing sustainment and battlefield recovery requirements that often determine operational endurance.

The Stryker family, developed by General Dynamics Land Systems, is built around an eight wheel drive configuration combining mobility, protection, and modular design. Combat weight typically ranges between 18 and 20 tons, enabling strategic deployment by C-17 transport aircraft while maintaining protection against small arms fire, artillery fragments, and improvised explosive devices. Power is generated by a Caterpillar C7 diesel engine producing around 350 horsepower, delivering road speeds above 90 kilometers per hour and an operational range of roughly 500 kilometers.

The XM1296 Dragoon variant represents the most consequential capability within the Bulgarian package. Equipped with a stabilized 30 mm cannon mounted in an unmanned turret, the Dragoon offers a marked increase in direct fire lethality compared with baseline remote weapon station configurations armed with 12.7 mm machine guns or 40 mm automatic grenade launchers. The 30 mm system allows engagement of lightly armored targets at extended ranges and enhances fire support for dismounted infantry, particularly in open terrain typical of parts of the Balkan and Black Sea regions.

Beyond mechanical assembly, TEREM Ivailo will host a new service support center for radios and communications systems, a capability not previously available in Bulgaria. This facility will diagnose and repair tactical communications equipment not only for the Stryker fleet but also for other formations across the Bulgarian Army. By internalizing maintenance of digital command-and-control systems, Sofia reduces reliance on external depots and strengthens the resilience of its land forces’ information architecture.

The integration of Stryker platforms into the 61st Mechanized Brigade reshapes its maneuver profile. Wheeled armored vehicles offer higher operational mobility on paved and semi-prepared roads than tracked infantry fighting vehicles, along with lower maintenance demands and reduced logistical strain. In a contingency along the Black Sea axis or across southeastern Europe, Stryker-equipped units can redeploy rapidly, establish blocking positions, and integrate with artillery, engineers, and close air support in a combined-arms framework. Networked communications, digital battle management systems, and improved onboard sensors enhance coordination and situational awareness, enabling dispersed yet synchronized operations.

The broader modernization context reinforces this trajectory. Bulgaria’s acquisition of the Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70, equipped with the AN APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array radar capable of tracking multiple targets and improving detection performance over legacy systems, complements the land force transformation. Together with the procurement of Javelin anti-tank guided missiles intended to equip Stryker units, the program reflects an integrated approach to deterrence.

Bulgaria’s Stryker timeline intersects with NATO’s evolving posture along its southeastern flank. Positioned on the Black Sea and at the crossroads of key transit corridors toward the Balkans and the eastern Mediterranean, Bulgaria plays a structural role in Alliance defense planning. A modern, medium mechanized formation built around interoperable platforms shortens response times and aligns national forces with allied operational concepts. If sustained through disciplined funding and political continuity, the Stryker program will not only reshape Bulgaria’s ground forces but also reinforce NATO’s collective defense architecture in a region where readiness and interoperability carry immediate security consequences.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay is a graduate of a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience in the study of conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.