The Bulgarian government has selected German shipbuilder Lürssen over Fincantieri of Italy to build two multi-role corvettes for the country’s navy, Defence Minister Krasimir Karakachanov announced on 27 February during a visit to Varna.
Officially dubbed the ‘multi-functional modular patrol ship’ by the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence (MoD), the new-generation corvette has to meet the nation’s requirements for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, air defence, peacetime maritime patrol, and search and rescue missions. The Bulgarian parliament has allocated a $463 million budget for the procurement of two ships.
Karakachanov said follow-on negotiations will be conducted with Lürssen, with the aim of signing a contract by mid-August.
The ship will be equipped with OTO Melara 76 mm gun, OTO Melara Dart close-in weapon system, Exocet or RBS15 shipboard antiship missiles, electronic countermeasures and MICA or evolved sea sparow anti-air missile.
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