Introduction
Bulgaria’s direct acquisition of Israeli defense technology has been limited but notable. The most concrete procurement was the purchase of 25 SandCat armored vehicles from Plasan, delivered between 2008 and 2010 for military police and counter-terror units. More recently, Bulgaria has moved toward Israeli systems through indirect procurement and plans to acquire MARS 3 (EuroPULS) multiple rocket launchers, based on Elbit’s PULS system. In the cyber domain, Bulgarian law enforcement and security agencies have reportedly used or tendered systems from Israeli firms such as Cellebrite and BriefCam. Bulgaria has also been linked to the presence or operations of Israeli cyber companies associated with surveillance technologies.
Israel-Bulgaria Relations
Israel and Bulgaria established diplomatic relations in 1948, but they were severed in 1967 under Bulgarian alignment with Soviet policy. Relations were restored in 1990 following the end of communist rule of Bulgaria.[1]Embassy of Israel in Sofia, Bilateral Relations Bulgaria’s acceptance to NATO in 2004 and the European Union in 2007 enhanced its strategic value for Israel.[2]Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria, About Bulgaria – History
Since 1991, relations have been maintained by high-level bilateral visits and several cooperation agreements in areas such as energy, technology, and security.[3]Embassy of Israel in Sofia, Bilateral Relations
Military and Security Relations
Military and security relations between Israel and Bulgaria have developed since the early 2000s through formal agreements, joint activities, and limited procurement of defense technologies. In 2012, the two countries signed agreements on military training and defense industry cooperation, alongside additional arrangements on security coordination. Bilateral engagement has also included participation in joint and multinational military exercises, as well as exchanges between defense institutions. These activities have taken place alongside the involvement of Israeli defense companies in Bulgaria’s procurement and modernization processes.
Defense Agreements and Notable Visits
In January 2012, Israel and Bulgaria signed two defense agreements covering joint military training and cooperation in the defense industry, including production and trade of defense equipment and joint research and development. The agreements were signed during a meeting of the two countries’ Defense Ministers, Anyu Angelov and Ehud Barak in Tel Aviv.[4]Novinite, Bulgaria Formalizes Military Ties with Israel, 15.01.2012[5]Ynet, Bulgaria, Israel to sign defense cooperation agreement, 14.01.2012
In September 2012, two months after the Burgas airport bombing targeting Israeli tourists, the Israeli and Bulgarian transport ministers signed a security cooperation agreement. It included measures to enhance aviation security, information sharing, and installation of closed-circuit cameras at Bulgarian airports.[6]The Times of Israel, Israel and Bulgaria to boost security cooperation in wake of bombing, 11.09.2012
In March 2018, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev toured Israel’s national Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) and its adjacent cybersecurity technology park, with a delegation of ministers, officials and businessmen and discussed possibilities of cooperation in the cybersecurity sphere with Israel.[7]The Times of Israel, Bulgaria Israel mull cybersecurity cooperation, 22.03.2018
In May 2018, representatives from Bulgaria participated in an International Air Force Commander Convention hosted by Israel’s Air Force.[8]Israeli Air Force, “The first F-35 operational strike”, 22.05.2018
In January 2020, Bulgarian representatives participated in the Cybertech Global 2020 conference held in Tel Aviv.[9]Israel Defense, Cybertech Global 2020 Ends on a High Note, 30.01.2020
In November 2024, the Israeli company Check Point organized the second edition of Cyber Sec Day in Sofia, Bulgaria and invited Israel’s ambassador to Bulgaria, Yossi Levi Sfari to speak.[10]Embassy of Israel in Sofia, Ambassador Sfari opened the annual Checkpoint CyberSecDay in Bulgaria, 08.11.2024
In February 2025, Bulgaria’s Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov met with Israel’s ambassador to Sofia, Yosef Levi Sfari, to discuss bilateral defense cooperation, including the possible involvement of Israeli defense companies in projects planned under Bulgaria’s defense investment program.[11]SeeNews, OVERVIEW – SEE emerging as hub for Israeli arms, defence partnerships, 18.03.2026
Procurement of Israeli Technology
In 2008 Bulgaria ordered 25 SandCat armoured vehicles from Plasan. The vehicles were delivered between 2008 and 2010 and have been used by the Military Police and Bulgaria’s Specialist Anti-Terrorism Unit.[12]SIPRI[13]Joint Forces, SandCat In Bulgarian Military Police Service, 07.07.2022[14]Army Technology, Plasan Delivers 25 SandCat Vehicles to Bulgaria, 04.02.2010
In 2016, Bulgaria halted the procurement of additional six SandCat armored vehicles.[15]Defence Blog, Bulgaria is to halt the procurement of six SandCat 4×4 armored vehicles, 16.03.2016
In March 2026, it was reported that Bulgaria plans to purchase 12 new multiple rocket launchers MARS 3, also known as EuroPULS. The launchers are based on Elbit’s PULS system and are manufactured under license in Germany by KNDS.[16]Radio Bulgaria, Bulgaria plans to buy 12 MARS 3 multiple rocket launchers from Germany, 13.03.2026
Military Industrial Cooperation and Marketing
In 2017, the Bulgarian Army announced plans to procure 150 new wheeled armored vehicles as part of a modernization program, with a tender published in 2019.[17]Army Recognition, Bulgaria: Tender for 150 wheeled armored vehicles for its armed forces, 22.07.2019 Israeli companies, including Rafael and Elbit Systems, actively attempted to participate in this program by offering systems and partnerships (see below). However, the tender was later abandoned, and in 2023 Bulgaria signed a deal with the United States to purchase Stryker vehicles from General Dynamics Land Systems.[18]Defense News, Bulgarian government approves $1.37 billion Stryker order, 25.09.2023
In the context of Bulgaria’s armored vehicle modernization plans, the Israeli defense companies Rafael and Elbit conducted extensive marketing and industrial outreach:
- Presentations of the Piranha IFV fitted with Rafael’s weapon station and later with Elbit’s UT30 Mk.2 unmanned turret.[19]Israel Defense, HEMUS 2018: Piranha IFV Fitted with Elbit’s Unmanned Turret Offered to Bulgarian Army, 30.05.2018
- Rafael event in February 2018 showcasing BNET radios, SPIKE missiles, and weapon stations.[20]Israel Defense, Rafael Offers BNET Tactical Radio System to Bulgaria, 20.02.2018
- Live-fire demonstration in June 2018 of Rafael systems integrated into Patria AMV[21]Defence Blog, Patria demonstrates AMV’s live-fire capabilities in Bulgaria, 03.06.2018
- Elbit “Industrial Cooperation Day” in November 2018 to identify Bulgarian partners.[22]Bulgarian Military, Elbit Systems Held Industrial Cooperation Day for Potential Partners from Bulgaria, 01.11.2018.
Additional industrial engagement included:
- A 2018 agreement between Bulgarian state-owned arms manufacturer VMZ Sopot and Israeli Aeronautics for UAV production.[23]Israel Defense, Aeronautics to Produce UAVs in Bulgaria, 18.11.2018
- Rafael industrial cooperation event in Sofia in June 2019.[24]Bulgarian Military, Rafael Will Hold a Special Event in Bulgaria in the Fields of Air, Land, Naval and Cyber Defense, 30.05.2019
- In January 2025 representatives of Israeli manufacturing firm 4Model visited Bulgaria looking for opportunities to expand its military production capacity in Europe. 4Model held meetings with senior government and industrial stakeholders.[25]SeeNews, OVERVIEW – SEE emerging as hub for Israeli arms, defence partnerships, 18.03.2026
Cyber
Several Israeli cyber companies are marketing their products to law enforcement or border control agencies in Bulgaria.
Cellebrite: Cellebrite’s products for phone-hacking, including UFED and Touch 2, were mentioned in Bulgaria’s tenders for the purchase of licenses for specialized software products used in the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime. Although the tenders found were closed without a winner,[26]EU Tenders, 868668-2025 – Result[27]EU Tenders, 134991-2022 – Result several of the tenders’ wordings include “Renewal of the license” suggesting the Bulgarian authorities had previously used Cellebrite’s UFED software.[28]EU Tenders, 134991-2022 – Result[29]EU Tenders, 536145-2021 – Competition
BriefCam: In 2021, the Bulgarian Ministry of Internal Affairs published a tender for employees’ training on working with newly built video systems. The tender included specific training for working with BriefCam. The contractor chosen was “Telelink Business Services”. Funding for this tender came from EU budgets dedicated to construction of video surveillance systems at the border checkpoint of the Republic of Bulgaria.[30]EU Tenders, 249752-2021 – Result In 2023 Bulgarian tender by the Ministry of Internal Affairs under the title “Building a National Intelligent Security System by upgrading the Integrated Automated Security System” included 1800 licenses for BriefCam software.[31]EU Tenders, 169070-2023 – Result BriefCam licenses and training are also mentioned in other tenders from 2025.[32]EU Tenders, 452213-2025 – Contract modification[33]EU Tenders, 278003-2025 – Competition
Besides usage of Israeli cyber technologies, Bulgaria has also been linked to the presence or operations of Israeli cyber companies associated with surveillance technologies:
Circles: Circles is an Israeli surveillance firm that exploits weaknesses in mobile phone networks to spy on calls, texts, and location information. The company was founded in 2011 by Boaz Goldman and Tal Dilian, who was later subject to media investigations over the promotion and public demonstration of surveillance technologies and was convicted by a Greek court in connection with illegal surveillance activities.[34]The Times of Israel, Israeli spyware maker sentenced to 8 years in Greece’s Predator case, 26.02.2026 Circles is registered in Cyprus and operates from Bulgaria, reportedly in order to circumvent Israeli export regulations. The company was acquired by NSO in 2014.[35]Haaretz, A Shady Israeli Intel Genius, His Cyber-spy Van and Million-dollar Deals, 31.12.2020[36]Calcalistech, Report reveals which countries are using Circles Technologies’ invasive spyware, 01.12.2020[37]Circles, Surveillance Watch, 10.04.2026
Pegasus – NSO group: Bulgaria was one of several countries hosting subsidiaries linked to NSO Group. Representatives from the company said that they’ve been granted export licenses for their tech from Bulgaria. While the Bulgarian authorities denied granting export licenses to NSO group, the information on the company’s structure raises questions as to whether they granted licenses to one of NSO’s many subsidiaries instead.[38]Politico, Pegasus’ complex structure hinders EU spyware probe, 20.05.2022[39]Politico, Pegasus makers face EU grilling. Here’s what to ask them, 21.06.2022 Reports claim the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior has used Pegasus, and an ongoing prosecution probe is examining the issue.[40]Vsquare, How EU countries spy on their citizens, 28.08.2023
According to NSO Group’s supplier code of conduct published in September 2024, the Israeli company is exporting from Bulgaria’ alongside Israel. NSO Groups’s local branch, Circles Bulgaria, has an export permit valid until April 2028.[41]Intelligence Online, Sofia, Israeli cyber specialists’ trusted European base, 18.10.2024
According to Intelligence Online, additional Israeli cyber companies besides NSO Group use Bulgaria as an entry point into Europe, including Ability, a US-Israeli interceptions group and Almenta Group which was founded by Israelis and develops phone and Wi-Fi tapping systems and geo-location tools.[42]Intelligence Online, Sofia, Israeli cyber specialists’ trusted European base, 18.10.2024
Joint Drills
Niriis 2017: In November 2017, Bulgaria and Israel both participated in a naval exercise hosted by Greece.[43]Naval Today, Greece hosts international maritime drill Niriis 2017, 24.11.2017
The International Air Force Commanders’ Conference 2018, hosted by the Israeli Air Force, was attended by participants from Bulgaria, alongside participants from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Greece, Poland, Italy, Cyprus, Austria, Brazil, Croatia, France, the Czech Republic, Romania, the Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Vietnam, and India.[44]Israel Defense, IAF Holds International Air Force Conference, 22.05.2018
2020: In December 2020 a joint naval exercise was held between Greece, Bulgaria, and Israel.[45]AIES, Israeli-Greek Naval, Air Force and Defence Industry Cooperation, 10.2021[46]Israel Defense, Israeli Navy, NATO hold joint exercise in Mediterranean, 17.12.2020
Arms Exhibitions
HEMUS expo in Bulgaria:
Hemus 2022 – Rafael participated.[47]Joint Forces, Rafael Is Participating In HEMUS 2022 In Bulgaria, 31.05.2022 Elbit’s manned turret system was shown by Patria.[48]Joint Forces, Patria Is Showcasing At HEMUS In Bulgaria, 22.05.2022[49]Israel Defense, RAFAEL participating in HEMUS 2022 in Bulgaria, 01.06.2022
HEMUS 2020 – Rafael participated in the event with a wide range of technologies.[50]Israel Defense, Rafael participates in Bulgaria’s HEMUS 2020 defense expo, 04.10.2020
Conferences and arms exhibitions by Improvate – Improvate is an Israeli-based platform that organizes conferences and delegations to promote Israeli cyber and defense technologies in Central and Eastern Europe, with a strong focus on Bulgaria. In Sofia, it convenes Israeli companies alongside Bulgarian political, military, and intelligence officials, effectively creating direct channels for marketing security and surveillance tools. Since 2022, it has organized at least five conferences:
March, May, June 2022: HLS & Cyber Security Business Delegation.[51]Improvate, HLS & Cyber Security Business Delegation, Bulgaria-Romania 2022[52]Improvate, HLS & Cyber Security Business Delegation, Bulgaria-Romania 2022
September 2022: Defence and Cyber conference.[53]Improvate, Defence and Cyber Conference, South East Europe 2022
March 2023: Cyber Security & HLS Delegation.[54]Improvate, Cyber Security & HLS Delegation, Bulgaria 2023
December 2023: Defense & HLS Conference.[55]Improvate, Defense & HLS Conference, Bulgaria 2023
November 2025: Defense & HLS Conference.[56]Improvate, Defense & HLS Conference, Bulgaria 2025