DOPPELADLER.COM

Caretaker Minister of Defence Atanas Zapryanov and the representative of the shipbuilding company Naval Vessels Lurssen (NVL), formerly known as FR.Lürssen Werft GmbH & Co. KG, Dirk Malgowski signed a supplementary agreement on Thursday for the implementation of the investment project "Electronic Warfare Systems and Radio Frequency Weapons for the Enhancement of Anti-Submarine Warfare Capabilities" to a project for the acquisition of a multi-purpose modular patrol vessel for the Navy, the Ministry of Defence reported here on Thursday.

The signing took place in the presence of Germany’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, Irene Maria Plank, Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov, caretaker Deputy Minister of Defence Adelina Nikolova and Deputy Commander of the Navy Flotilla Admiral Vanyo Musinski.

The annex will allow the integration of electronic warfare and radio weapon systems to take place during the ships' construction. The goal is to equip the two vessels with systems that ensure their protection at the beginning of their operation. The first multi-purpose modular patrol ship is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in late 2025, and the second should arrive in early 2027.

The project, approved by the National Assembly on July 26, 2024, is worth BGN 194,331,270 including VAT.

• Проект на решение за приемане на Проект за инвестиционен разход "Придобиване на системи за електронна война и радиотехническо въоръжение за усъвършенстване способностите за борба с подводници" към Проект "Придобиване на многофункционален модулен патрулен кораб за ВМС" Решение за приемане на Проект за инвестиционен разход "Придобиване на системи за електронна война и радиотехническо въоръжение за усъвършенстване способностите за борба с подводници" към Проект "Придобиване на многофункционален модулен патрулен кораб за ВМС"
  
  https://www.parliament.bg/bg/ns_acts/ID/165659

The second of two Hrabri-class multi-purpose modular patrol vessels (MMPVs) on order for the Bulgarian Navy, Smeli (11), was launched at MTG Dolphin's shipyard in Varna, Bulgaria, on 12 December, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense (MoD) confirmed on the same day.

MTG Dolphin is building the two vessels for the Bulgarian Navy under a 2020 BGN820 million (valued USD456.6 million at that time) contract awarded to prime contractor NVL Group (formerly Lürssen Defence).

First steel was cut for Smeli in December 2022 and the ship was laid down in June 2023. Its launch, which was contractually planned to take place in April 2025, comes around four months ahead of schedule, the MoD said. Under current planning, the second-in-class will be delivered in 2026.

Meanwhile, first-of-class Hrabri (12) continues to make good progress and is on track for delivery to the Bulgarian Navy by the end of 2025, the MoD said. Laid down in June 2022 and launched in August 2023, the lead ship is currently undergoing fitting-out activities and preparing for harbour acceptance testing.

The Hrabri-class MMPVs are derived from NVL Group's OPV (offshore patrol vessel) 90 design. The steel monohull vessels have a full load displacement of around 2,300 tonnes, with an overall length of 90 m and a top speed of 24 kt.