Editing Bulgarian Armed Forces (section)

=== From 1990 ===
[[File:SF - dismounted patrol.JPG|thumb|right|A Land Forces dismounted patrol in Afghanistan, January 2011]]

With the collapse of the [[Warsaw Pact]] & the end of the [[Cold War]], Bulgaria could no longer support a vast military. A rapid reduction in personnel & active equipment was to be carried out in parallel with a general re-alignment of strategic interests. In 1990, Bulgaria had a total of more than 2,400 tanks, 2,000 armored vehicles, 2,500 large caliber artillery systems,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+bg0208)|title=Ground Forces|website=Lcweb2.loc.gov|access-date=15 October 2017}}</ref> 300 fighter & bomber aircraft, 100 trainer aircraft, more than 40 combat & 40 transport helicopters,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+bg0209)|title=Air and Air Defense Forces|website=Lcweb2.loc.gov|access-date=15 October 2017}}</ref> 4 submarines, 6 fast missile craft, 2 frigates, 5 corvettes, 6 torpedo boats, 9 patrol craft, 30 minesweepers, and 21 transport vessels.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+bg0210)|title=Naval Forces|website=Lcweb2.loc.gov|access-date=15 October 2017}}</ref> Due to the economic crisis that affected most former Eastern bloc countries, a steady reform in the military could not be carried out; much of the equipment fell into disrepair and some of it was smuggled and sold to the international black market. Inadequate payments, fuel & spare part shortages and the disbandment of many capable units led to an overall drop in combat readiness, morale & discipline.

After partially recovering from the 1990s crisis, the Bulgarian military became a part of [[NATO]]. Even before that, Bulgaria sent a total of 485 soldiers to Iraq (2003–2008) as a participant in the [[Iraq War]] and maintained a 608-men strong force in Afghanistan as part of [[ISAF]]. Bulgaria had a significant missile arsenal, including 67 [[SCUD|SCUD-B]], 50 [[FROG-7]] & 24 [[SS-23]] ballistic missiles.<ref name="SN">[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)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080403211354/http://www.standartnews.com/archive/2002/08/12/interview/s3453_2.htm |date=3 April 2008 }}</ref> In 2002, Bulgaria disbanded the [[Bulgarian Rocket Forces|Rocket Forces]] despite nationwide protests and has disbanded its submarine component. Bulgaria is to have 27,000 standing troops by 2014, consisting of 14,310 troops in the land forces, 6,750 in the air force, 3,510 in the navy, and 2,420 in the joint command.<ref>White Paper, p.30</ref> In 2018, the Bulgarian Armed Forces numbered around 33,150 soldiers, 73 aircraft, 2234 vehicles, including 531 tanks, and 29 naval assets.