Bulgarian Navy takes delivery of first Panther

October 10, 2011 Tony Osborne, SHEPARD GROUP

London- The Bulgarian Navy has finally taken delivery of its first Eurocopter AS565 Panther following protracted negotiations between the government and the manufacturer.

The aircraft was handed over in a ceremony at the naval air station at Varna on 9 October and is the first of three Panthers, the remaining two of which will be delivered before the end of the year.

The Bulgarian Navy had originally ordered six Panther helicopters to replace seven Mi-14s currently in use but financial issues and what have been described as controversial supply contract provisions in the Bulgarian press, forced the government to renegotiate the deal with Eurocopter.

The Panthers were ordered at the same time the Bulgarian Air Force ordered 12 Cougar helicopters.

At the ceremony, Navy Commodore Admiral Plamen Manushev thanked Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, the Minister of Defence Anyu Angelov and the government for allocating funds for the fleet.

'For the first time since the Bulgarian Naval Forces are receiving the best equipment in the world,' said Manushev.

Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said that the Bulgarian troops deserve the best and stressed that the helicopter would also be an important asset for the security of Bulgarian Schengen border.

Bulgarian Navy Panthers have been fitted to carry torpedoes, a 20mm gun, an EO/IR payload and a search and rescue radar. The aircraft are also night-vision goggle compatible. The navy says the characteristics make the aircraft among the 'most modern multipurpose maritime helicopters in NATO.'

So far, six of nine navy pilots and aviation engineering staff have successfully passed their training courses at Eurocopter in France.