The U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria of Stryker Vehicles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $1.5 billion.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on 01 September 2023.
The Government of the Republic of Bulgaria has requested to buy one hundred eighty-three (183) Stryker Family of Vehicles. The proposed sale would consist of: ninety (90) XM1296 Infantry Carrier Vehicles – Dragoon (ICVD); seventeen (17) M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICV); nine (9) M1132 Engineer Squad Vehicles (ESV); thirty-three (33) M1130 Command Vehicles (CV); twenty-four (24) M1133 Medical Evacuation Vehicles (MEV); ten (10) M1135 Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicles (NBCRV); five (5) Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) Light Equipment Transports (LET); five (5) Modular Catastrophic Recovery Systems (MCRS); two (2) M1120A4 HEMTT Load Handling Systems; five (5) M984A4 Wrecker HEMTTs; and one hundred seven (107) M240 Coaxial 7.62mm machine guns. Also included is support service equipment; M-153A4 Common Remote Operated Weapons Stations (CROWS); Forward Repair Systems (FRS); M2A1 .50 caliber machine guns; M6 smoke grenade launchers and associated spares; Harris radios; AN/VAS-5 Driver’s Vision Enhancer (DVE); DVE-Wide; communications equipment; RS6 (LW30) Remote Weapon Systems; TACFLIR 280 HDEP systems; Ranger R20SS Radar; ROVER6Si transceivers; spare parts; Basic Issue Items (BII), Components of End Items (COEI), Additional Authorized List (AAL); Special Tools and Test Equipment (STTE); technical manuals; OCONUS Deprocessing Service; OCONUS contractor provided training and Field Service Representatives (FSR); component assembly in-country; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $1.5 billion.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.
The proposed sale will improve Bulgaria’s rapid infantry deployment and force projection capability. Bulgaria will use this enhanced capability to strengthen its homeland defense and deter regional threats. Bulgaria will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and services into its Armed Forces.
The principal contractor will be General Dynamics Land Systems, Anniston, Alabama. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require twenty (20) Stryker contractor representatives to travel to Bulgaria for twenty-four (24) months to conduct contractor logistics support, training, and component assembly support.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
This notice of a potential sale is required by law. The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded.
Source: Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA); File Photo: M1296 Dragoon © Wikimedia Commons)
