One more Bulgarian combat battalion certified for NATO operations

The Sixth Bulgarian battalion battle group on Thursday was certified to participate in all kinds of NATO missions worldwide during the final stage of the military exercise codenamed Kabile 2015.

A total of 810 Bulgarian troops with 190 tanks, armored personnel carriers, helicopters, warplanes and other equipment participated in the drill, jointly with 50 U.S. troops, two tanks M1A2 Abrams and three armored personnel carriers Stryker.

Landing of commandos and medical evacuation by Cougar helicopters, and firing with live projectiles by a Mi-17 helicopter, two Su-25 ground-support aircraft, dozens of tanks T-72 and M1A2, self-propelled guns and self-propelled mortars, were among the most attractive demonstrations during the event held at Novo Selo Training Area, one of the four joint U.S.-Bulgarian military bases in the Balkan country.

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev, who attended the drill, told reporters the national army became more and more modern and further increased the level of interoperability with NATO forces.

Vice Admiral Rumen Nikolov, Bulgaria's Chief of Defense, added that the presence of U.S. tanks in the country was carried out under the plan for the joint Bulgarian-American training and exercises, mapped out months ago.

Units from the Bulgarian and U.S. armed forces will participate in 23 key joint trainings and exercises in the Balkan country, and another 12 abroad in 2015, according to the plan, which was published on the website of the ministry.

Bulgaria, a NATO member since 2004, signed a defense cooperation agreement with the US in 2006. According to the agreement, the number of U.S. members of the force and civilian component present in the territory of Bulgaria may not exceed 2,500 personnel. This number may be increased temporarily by no more than 2,500. Endit