US, European, Israeli radar makers await Bulgaria’s order

LONDON — The Bulgarian Defence Ministry is expected to select its new three-coordinate radar in the coming weeks, according to industry representatives present at this year’s DSEI show in London.

On Aug. 24, Bulgariam Deputy Defence Minister Stanimir Georgiev said the planned acquisition of seven new radars is crucial for the country’s ongoing efforts to modernize its Air Force .

According to the ministry, five companies submitted their offers: France’s Thales; Israel Aerospace Industries subsidiary Elta Systems; Italy’s Leonardo, Spain’s Indra; and U.S company Lockheed Martin.

Thales is offering a radar from its Ground Master family for the Bulgarian Air Force, according to a statement provided to Defense News by the French firm’s communications team at DSEI.

John Neilson, the director for international communications at Lockheed Martin, told Defense News the company has proposed the TPS-77 radar to Bulgaria. “We await feedback from the Bulgarian MoD on next steps in the process,” Neilson said.

The forthcoming acquisition is worth about 400 million leva ($219 million). The main criteria under consideration are price, maintenance costs, operational capacities, industrial cooperation opportunities and warranty maintenance terms, according to the ministry.

Defense News has contacted Leonardo, Elta and Indra for comment.

Jaroslaw Adamowski is the Poland correspondent for Defense News.

伦敦——据出席今年伦敦DSEI防务展的业内人士透露，保加利亚国防部预计将在未来几周内选定其新型三坐标雷达。

8月24日，保加利亚国防部副部长斯坦尼米尔·格奥尔基耶夫表示，计划采购7部新雷达对于该国正在进行的空军现代化努力至关重要。

据该部称，共有五家公司提交了报价：法国泰雷兹公司；以色列航空航天工业公司子公司埃尔塔系统公司；意大利莱昂纳多公司；西班牙因德拉公司；以及美国洛克希德·马丁公司。

据泰雷兹公司在DSEI防务展上的通讯团队向《防务新闻》提供的一份声明称，该公司正在向保加利亚空军提供其地面大师系列雷达。

洛克希德·马丁公司国际传播总监约翰·尼尔森告诉《防务新闻》，该公司已向保加利亚提议采购TPS-77雷达。“我们正在等待保加利亚国防部就下一步流程作出的反馈，”尼尔森说。

即将进行的此次收购价值约4亿列弗（约合2.19亿美元）。据该部称，主要考虑因素包括价格、维护成本、运营能力、产业合作机会和保修条款。

《防务新闻》已联系 Leonardo、Elta 和 Indra 公司征求意见。

Jaroslaw Adamowski 是《防务新闻》驻波兰记者。