Bulgaria’s Council of Ministers has cleared the acquisition of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) Coastal Defence System, a move intended to strengthen the country’s defensive posture along the Black Sea coastline.
The purchase will be executed through a foreign military sales (FMS) arrangement with the United States, a channel Bulgaria has previously used to procure major defense systems such as F-16 Block 70 fighter aircraft and Stryker armored vehicles. The U.S. State Department has already approved a potential FMS package for Bulgaria valued at approximately $620 million, covering the NSM Coastal Defence System, associated ammunition, and missile transport and loading vehicles.
Parliamentary documents indicate that the project would be structured through two separate contracts, estimated at around $205 million for the NSM Coastal Defence System itself and roughly $3 million for the associated command-and-control system. The inclusion of ammunition in the final contracts has not yet been confirmed.
The acquisition forms part of Bulgaria’s wider military modernization drive under the Armed Forces Investment Programme and the Defence Capabilities Development Programme 2032, with funding expected to come entirely from national sources, according to Novinite.
Once completed, Bulgaria will join Romania as an operator of the NSM Coastal Defence System, following Bucharest’s acquisition of the capability in December 2022. Developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace of Norway, the system comprises an advanced fire-control suite, NSM launcher units, and an integrated maritime surveillance and tracking radar.
The Naval Strike Missile is capable of engaging both surface vessels and land-based targets at ranges exceeding 100 nautical miles and carries a 500-pound-class warhead. The missile is also known for its sea-skimming flight profile and terminal maneuvering designed to enhance survivability against air defenses.
