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Israeli company modernizes Bulgarian army

Updated: 19/Dec/2005 16:04

An upgraded version of the Black Hawk

Photo: Elbit Systems

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An Israeli company last week signed a deal with the Bulgarian government to upgrade the Balkan nation’s helicopter fleet.

Elbit Systems won the contract in December 2004 over competing bids, one from Israel Aircraft Industries, but the Bulgarians suspended the contract over what the Defense Ministry called ’a non-achievement of the initially offered criteria.

The Israeli company took the Bulgarian Defense Ministry to court, which reversed the ministry’s decision.

Three year deal

The contract which was signed by Bulgarian Defense Minister Veselin Bilznakov and Elbit Systems Vice-President Menachem Bargev is reportedly worth 57,3 million euros.

The programme includes upgrading 12 MI-24 Hind combat helicopters and 6 MI-17 Hip transport helicopters to comply with NATO standards. It is expected to be completed over a three-year period, and will be executed with the participation of Bulgarian aerospace and defense industries.

Elbit Systems will be modernizing an ageing Soviet-era fleet of helicopters with the latest hi-tech equipment, something that Israeli companies have a lot of experience at.

According to Defense Ministry Daily, "Israeli companies have made a specialty refurbishing older Western fighters and even Soviet fighterswith modern radars, avionics, and Israeli weapons like the Python air to air missile, giving the systems new life."

According to Elbit Systems, their “advanced avionics and electro-optical systems are operational on 4,000 military helicopters worldwide.”

Romania also looks to Israel

Reports are also surfacing in the Israeli press that Elbit Systems may be competing for another European nation’s air force upgrade. Romania is reportedly looking at purchasing dozens of F-16 (Falcon) aircrafts from Israel.

According to Aviamagazine “The East European country is looking to buy the most advanced fighter jets available on the market.” Again, Elbit Systems will be seen as a lead bidder for this deal.

The deal is reportedly worth about 150 million dollars (130 million euros) and will burn a large hole in Romania’s defense budget, but Romania needs to upgrade their army. Former Soviet-bloc countries need to modernize their militaries as part of NATO’s interoperability goals, but funds are sometimes a challenge.

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