The acquisition is among Bulgaria’s largest single Foreign Military Sales purchases, according to the U.S. Army. It is intended to modernize the country’s ground forces and strengthen interoperability with NATO allies.
“Bulgaria’s commitment to this procurement demonstrates a serious investment in NATO interoperability and regional security,” said Tara Kessel, the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command’s country program manager for Bulgaria. “This acquisition represents a major modernization of Bulgaria’s ground capabilities and reflects the strength of the U.S.-Bulgaria defense partnership.”
General Dynamics Land Systems will initially assemble the vehicles at its facility in London, Ontario, Canada. Production will then transition to co-assembly and integration in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria.
That approach is designed to accelerate deliveries while supporting Bulgaria’s ambition to establish depot-level maintenance capabilities. The country also aims to position itself as a regional sustainment hub.
A nearly $45 million amendment signed July 15 forms part of the broader procurement package. It followed a review requested by Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov after he took office in May, addressing cost concerns and potential scope adjustments.
Kessel and other U.S. team members traveled to Bulgaria for direct discussions with government officials. Working with the Program Executive Office for Ground Combat Systems and the Embassy Sofia Military Group, they developed options to provide financial flexibility while preserving the program’s schedule.
“We had the path forward immediately upon leaving that meeting,” Kessel said. “Together, we identified ways to enhance efficiency while maintaining the overall integrity of the program.”
The Army said coordination with the Program Executive Office for Ground Combat Systems and Defense Security Cooperation Agency leadership reduced standard staffing timelines from weeks to days. Kessel linked the faster coordination to ongoing Foreign Military Sales reforms and the command’s recent alignment under Army acquisition leadership.
“With USASAC’s recent alignment under the operational control of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA(ALT)), we can now synchronize the entire capability lifecycle—from acquisition through international delivery,” Kessel said. “This is creating a more cohesive, agile enterprise.”
Preparations for operating the fleet are already underway, supported by eight Strykers delivered through the Excess Defense Articles program in mid-February 2026. Those vehicles provide an interim capability, with the transfer completed within months of approval.
A Washington Army National Guard Mobile Training Team deployed to Karlovo from March through June 2026 through a National Guard State Partnership pathway. Working alongside the Bulgarian Land Forces’ 61st Mechanized Brigade, it provided hands-on operator, maintenance and recovery training.
The training drew on the Washington Guard’s decade of experience with Stryker vehicles. It supports Bulgaria’s transition to the new fleet while the production program develops local assembly and longer-term maintenance capacity.
