Bulgaria and weapons of mass destruction
Encyclopedia
Bulgaria
has developed weapons of mass destruction
, most notably chemical weapons. Chemical weapons production was concentrated in Smyadovo
. This indigenous production capability was probably achieved with the help of the USSR. As of 2011 Bulgaria does not possess any weapons of mass destruction.
had a significant missile
arsenal, including 67 SCUD-B
, 50 FROG-7
and 24 SS-23 ballistic missiles. 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-23 systems had conventional warheads plus a WMD launching capability. The nuclear missile launching pads and equipment were dismantled in 1991. The first missile brigade was created in 1961. In 1994 the country bought 46 conventional warheads for its SCUDs from Russia. All 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 160 kg each.
in 1994 and dismantled them by 2000.
, and there is no information indicating that the country has ever developed such weapons.
with its own plutonium
storage facility.
A nuclear research facility with a 200 kW pool-type reactor is in operation in Sofia
. The reactor of the facility produces some nuclear material, which is stored near Novi Khan.
As part of its efforts to safeguard potentially weapons-usable 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.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
has developed weapons of mass destruction
Weapons of mass destruction
A weapon of mass destruction is a weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans and/or cause great damage to man-made structures , natural structures , or the biosphere in general...
, most notably chemical weapons. Chemical weapons production was concentrated in Smyadovo
Smyadovo
Smyadovo is a town in eastern Bulgaria, part of Shumen Province. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Smyadovo Municipality, which lies in the southeastern part of the province. As of December 2009, the town has a population of 4,036 inhabitants....
. This indigenous production capability was probably achieved with the help of the USSR. As of 2011 Bulgaria does not possess any weapons of mass destruction.
Missile program
BulgariaBulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
had a significant missile
Missile
Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
arsenal, including 67 SCUD-B
Scud
Scud is a series of tactical ballistic missiles developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and exported widely to other countries. The term comes from the NATO reporting name SS-1 Scud which was attached to the missile by Western intelligence agencies...
, 50 FROG-7
FROG-7
The 9K52 Luna-M is a Soviet short-range ballistic missile complex. The 9M21 missiles are unguided and spin-stabilized. "9K52" is its GRAU designation. Its NATO reporting name is FROG-7....
and 24 SS-23 ballistic missiles. 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-23 systems had conventional warheads plus a WMD launching capability. The nuclear missile launching pads and equipment were dismantled in 1991. The first missile brigade was created in 1961. In 1994 the country bought 46 conventional warheads for its SCUDs from Russia. All 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 160 kg each.
Chemical weapons
Information over Bulgaria's chemical weapons is scarce. The only known chemical weapons production facility is located near Smyadovo, which now produces chemicals for civilian purposes. The country ratified the Chemical Weapons ConventionChemical Weapons Convention
The Chemical Weapons Convention is an arms control agreement which outlaws the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons. Its full name is the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction...
in 1994 and dismantled them by 2000.
Biological weapons
Bulgaria has signed and ratified the Biological Weapons ConventionBiological Weapons Convention
The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction was the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning the...
, and there is no information indicating that the country has ever developed such weapons.
Nuclear weapons
Bulgaria has never developed nuclear weapons, although some treaties with the Soviet Union guaranteed deployment of Soviet warheads on Bulgarian territory in case of a war with NATO. The country has the potential to establish a military nuclear program, having a nuclear powerplant at KozloduyKozloduy
Kozloduy is a town of 13,871 inhabitants in northwest Bulgaria, located in Vratsa Province, on the river Danube. The city was liberated from Ottoman rule on 23 November 1877 by the Romanian Army under the command of the Imperial Russian Army...
with its own plutonium
Plutonium
Plutonium is a transuranic radioactive chemical element with the chemical symbol Pu and atomic number 94. It is an actinide metal of silvery-gray appearance that tarnishes when exposed to air, forming a dull coating when oxidized. The element normally exhibits six allotropes and four oxidation...
storage facility.
A nuclear research facility with a 200 kW pool-type reactor is in operation in Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
. The reactor of the facility produces some nuclear material, which is stored near Novi Khan.
As part of its efforts to safeguard potentially weapons-usable atomic material, the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
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
International Atomic Energy Agency
The International Atomic Energy Agency is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. The IAEA was established as an autonomous organization on 29 July 1957...
(IAEA). Agency safeguards inspectors monitored and verified the packaging of the fuel, which Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
says it will re-fabricate into low-enriched uranium.