The first mention of possible operations in/against the Libyan regime in Bulgaria came in the form of a press release on 20 March 2011, in which Prime Minister Borisov stated “Bulgaria condemns the actions undertaken by the Gaddafi regime against civilians. He has lost legitimacy and must step down before more innocent human blood is shed. Bulgaria will support a decision based on international law and the UN Security Council resolutions. At the same time, we are resolved to fulfill our allied commitments to NATO and the EU”. In that same announcement, the government of Bulgaria pledged, if requested, to deploy a frigate for blockade enforcement. The lack of Bulgarian Air Force participation probably stems from (1) the small operational size and combat capabilities of the force, and (2) the fact that Bulgaria’s air force uses Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter aircraft, which are not easily utilized alongside other NATO assets.
On 11 April 2011, the Bulgarian government announced the deployment of the Wielingen-class frigate BGS Drazki (41), to take part in NATO’s Operation Unified Protector. The vessel was scheduled to arrive on-station by 1 May, with Captain Pancho Panchev at the helm. It was tasked with convoy protection, blockade enforcement, and inspection of suspect vessels. For this task, a special forces team was placed aboard the Drazki as well, likely drawn from the 63rd Naval Special Forces Reconnaissance Detachment, known as the Black Sea Sharks. The vessel’s complement was 160.
The vessel deployed in two separate rounds of patrol, the first lasting from 1-12 May, and the second from 17-31 May. In that time, it intercepted 76 vessels, hailing 22 of them in Arabic; monitored 3,214 aerial targets over Libyan airspace; and traveled 7,600 nautical miles, refueling at sea four times and running for 28 days. This marked a major accomplishment for the Bulgarian military, in particular the naval forces.
