Bulgaria and weapons of mass destruction

Bulgaria has developed weapons of mass destruction, most notably chemical weapons. Chemical weapons production was concentrated in Smyadovo. Probably this indigenous production capability was achieved with the help of the USSR. [http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/bulgaria/index.html GlobalSecurity.org - Bulgaria special weapons] ]

Missile program

Bulgaria had a significant missile arsenal, including some 50 SCUD-B, dozens of FROG-7 and 24 SS-23 ballistic missiles. [http://www.standartnews.com/archive/2002/08/12/interview/s3453_2.htm StandartNews.com "Никой не разбра, че горихме ракети през 1973 г. (in Bulgarian)] ] Since the USSR planned to rapidly deploy its own nuclear weapons in Bulgaria in case a war broke out, the missiles were not armed with warheads, but only prepared to launch Soviet weapons. The SS-23s though had conventional warheads and also WMD launching capability. The nuclear missile launching pads and equipment was dismantled in 1991. The first missile brigade was created in 1961. [ [http://www.duma.bg/2005/0805/270805/obshtestvo/ob-4.html Duma.bg "България вече е ракетна сила !" (in bulgarian)] ] In 1994 the country bought 46 conventional warheads for its SCUDs from Russia. All the Scud, Frog and SS-23 missiles were destroyed in 2002. Currently Bulgaria operates a dozen SS-21 Scarab-A launchers, but information over the exact number of missiles is classified. They are all armed with conventional warheads of 482 kg each, though there is an option to be armed with gas dispersion canisters.

Chemical weapons

Information over Bulgaria's chemical weapons is scarce. The only known chemical weapons production facility is located near Smyadovo, which now produces only chemicals for civilian purposes. The country ratified the CWC in 1994, but has not declared its stockpiles and probably still keeps them ready for use. Chemical agents most probably include sarin, tabun, soman and mustard gas. The Bulgarian military has a very large artillery force. Most of its equipment, such as the BM-21 Grad launchers, 2S1 Gvozdika artillery pieces and M-30 howitzers can serve to deliver chemical weapons. The air force also has some aircraft in its inventory (Su-25 ground attack jet planes and MiG-21 fighters), which can be used for this purpose.

Biological and nuclear weapons

Bulgaria has signed and ratified the Biological Weapons Convention, and its not known whether the country has developed such weapons. There hasn't been a military nuclear program either, although some treaties with the Soviet Union guaranteed deployment of Russian warheads on Bulgarian territory in case of a war with NATO. The country has a significant nuclear potential, having a nuclear powerplant at Kozloduy. The plutonium, produced there is sent to Russia for reprocessing. Two new nuclear reactors are expected to be finished by 2013 near Belene. There are two research reactors in Sofia, one of them currently shut down. The other one is constructed and operated by the Bulgarian Science Academy, and produces some nuclear material, which is stored near Novi Khan. [ [http://www.mlsp.government.bg/bg/faq/faq.asp?qid=26965 Министерство на труда и социалната политика (in bulgarian)] ] . As part of its efforts to safeguard potentially weapons-useable atomic material, the United Nations nuclear watchdog assisted Bulgaria with the removal of highly-enriched uranium stored at the shut-down research reactor in Sofia. The substance, which was 36 % enriched and took the form of fresh fuel, was airlifted in December 2003 to Russia, the original supplier, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Agency safeguards inspectors monitored and verified the packaging of the fuel, which Moscow says it will re-fabricate into low-enriched uranium.

See also

* Military of Bulgaria

References