With the collapse of the Warsaw Pact and the end of the Cold War, Bulgaria could no longer support a vast military. A rapid reduction in personnel and active equipment was to be carried out in parallel with a general re-alignment of strategic interests. In 1990, Bulgaria had a total of more than 2,400 tanks, 2,000 armored vehicles, 2,500 large caliber artillery systems, 300 fighter and bomber aircraft, 100 trainer aircraft, more than 40 combat and 40 transport helicopters, 4 submarines, 6 fast missile craft, 2 frigates, 5 corvettes, 6 torpedo boats, 9 patrol craft, 30 minesweepers and 21 transport vessels. Due to the economic crisis that affected most former Eastern bloc countries, a steady reform in the military could not be carried out; much of the equipment fell into disrepair and some of it was smuggled and sold to the international black market. Inadequate payments, fuel and spare part shortages and the disbandment of many capable units led to an overall drop in combat readiness, morale and discipline.
After partially recovering from the 1990s crisis, the Bulgarian military became a part of the collective defensive system of NATO. As a member, Bulgaria sent a total of 485 soldiers to Iraq (2003–2008) as a participant in the Iraq War, and currently maintains a 608-strong force in Afghanistan as part of ISAF. Bulgaria had a significant missile arsenal, including 67 SCUD-B, 50 FROG-7 and 24 SS-23 ballistic missiles. In 2002, Bulgaria disbanded the Rocket Forces despite nationwide protests, and has disbanded its submarine component. Bulgaria is to have 27,000 standing troops by 2014, consisting of 14,310 troops in the land forces, 6,750 in the air force, 3,510 in the navy and 2,420 in the joint command. In 2018, the Bulgarian Armed Forces numbers around 33,150 soldiers, 73 aircraft, 2234 vehicles including 531 tanks, and 29 naval assets.
Please don’t declare war on Bulgaria. The Bulgarians have enough problems. I visited Bulgaria briefly during a Viking River Cruise of the Danube. I felt very bad for the Bulgarians. They endured about 400 years of occupation by the Ottoman Empire / Muslims. The Christian Orthodox population were officially considered as an inferior class of people. They were heavily taxed, made to do all of the very worst jobs and had to practice their religion in secret. Then they endured about 50 years under the control of the commies, who came in, built a bunch of factories and told the farmers, “You are no longer farmers, you are now factory workers.” They made them move into cheaply built, and very ugly, “commie condos” near the factories. The factories produced products that were sold to other communist block countries. When the communists moved out, there was no market for those inferior products. The factories have lain vacant since the ’90’s. The condos have been spruced up and are still inhabited but not considered desirable housing. The economy is mostly agricultural. The government is so dreadfully corrupt that its application to join Europe’s Schengen area was rejected. There is a great tremendous amount of public discontent and the population continues to shrink as people are leaving the country for a better place to live.
Yakety Sax almost 4 years ago
From Wikipedia :
With the collapse of the Warsaw Pact and the end of the Cold War, Bulgaria could no longer support a vast military. A rapid reduction in personnel and active equipment was to be carried out in parallel with a general re-alignment of strategic interests. In 1990, Bulgaria had a total of more than 2,400 tanks, 2,000 armored vehicles, 2,500 large caliber artillery systems, 300 fighter and bomber aircraft, 100 trainer aircraft, more than 40 combat and 40 transport helicopters, 4 submarines, 6 fast missile craft, 2 frigates, 5 corvettes, 6 torpedo boats, 9 patrol craft, 30 minesweepers and 21 transport vessels. Due to the economic crisis that affected most former Eastern bloc countries, a steady reform in the military could not be carried out; much of the equipment fell into disrepair and some of it was smuggled and sold to the international black market. Inadequate payments, fuel and spare part shortages and the disbandment of many capable units led to an overall drop in combat readiness, morale and discipline.
After partially recovering from the 1990s crisis, the Bulgarian military became a part of the collective defensive system of NATO. As a member, Bulgaria sent a total of 485 soldiers to Iraq (2003–2008) as a participant in the Iraq War, and currently maintains a 608-strong force in Afghanistan as part of ISAF. Bulgaria had a significant missile arsenal, including 67 SCUD-B, 50 FROG-7 and 24 SS-23 ballistic missiles. In 2002, Bulgaria disbanded the Rocket Forces despite nationwide protests, and has disbanded its submarine component. Bulgaria is to have 27,000 standing troops by 2014, consisting of 14,310 troops in the land forces, 6,750 in the air force, 3,510 in the navy and 2,420 in the joint command. In 2018, the Bulgarian Armed Forces numbers around 33,150 soldiers, 73 aircraft, 2234 vehicles including 531 tanks, and 29 naval assets.
therese_callahan2002 almost 4 years ago
It all began when the computer asked, “Shall we play a game?”
jpayne4040 almost 4 years ago
LOL! Better see if Romania will help you out!
Troglodyte almost 4 years ago
Is he at Risk®?
WCraft Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Quick! Surrender!
Bobtul07110 almost 4 years ago
When the first computers (room-sized) were built, nobody thought that there would be a need for more than 2 or 3 of them in the whole world.
cuzinron47 almost 4 years ago
Hope he’s using a VPN.
paranormal almost 4 years ago
Oops!
Aficionado almost 4 years ago
Please don’t declare war on Bulgaria. The Bulgarians have enough problems. I visited Bulgaria briefly during a Viking River Cruise of the Danube. I felt very bad for the Bulgarians. They endured about 400 years of occupation by the Ottoman Empire / Muslims. The Christian Orthodox population were officially considered as an inferior class of people. They were heavily taxed, made to do all of the very worst jobs and had to practice their religion in secret. Then they endured about 50 years under the control of the commies, who came in, built a bunch of factories and told the farmers, “You are no longer farmers, you are now factory workers.” They made them move into cheaply built, and very ugly, “commie condos” near the factories. The factories produced products that were sold to other communist block countries. When the communists moved out, there was no market for those inferior products. The factories have lain vacant since the ’90’s. The condos have been spruced up and are still inhabited but not considered desirable housing. The economy is mostly agricultural. The government is so dreadfully corrupt that its application to join Europe’s Schengen area was rejected. There is a great tremendous amount of public discontent and the population continues to shrink as people are leaving the country for a better place to live.