Two bidders make the cut in Bulgarian IFV programme
Proposals from General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) and Patria have been downselected for the second phase of the Bulgarian 8x8 IFV procurement programme.
The Bulgarian MoD selected the Patria AMVxp (pictured) and GDELS-Mowag Piranha V vehicles, preferring them to the Nexter VBCI and ARTEC Boxer.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that the Bulgarian Army has a long-standing requirement to replace legacy Soviet-era equipment, with a high priority given to procuring 90 new 8x8 IFVs to equip four battalion-sized battle groups, for an estimated cost of BGN896 million ($540 million).
After several delays, the Bulgarian MoD issued an RfP in August 2018 to the four downselected bidders mentioned above.
A winner should have been selected in December that year before a contract announcement in early 2020. However, this was delayed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
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