Production of the first Stryker 8x8 armored vehicles for the Bulgarian Ground Forces in the USA has begun — in accordance with the contract of 2023

 The production of the first Stryker 8x8 armored combat vehicles for the Bulgarian Ground Forces has officially begun in the United States and is proceeding according to contractual deadlines. This was confirmed by Brigadier General Stoyan Shopov, Chief of Staff of the Bulgarian Ground Forces. The purchase is regulated by the agreement on the supply of foreign military equipment (FMS), signed in 2023. It provides for the supply of 183 Stryker vehicles of various combat and auxiliary configurations, as well as 15 additional auxiliary platforms. The total cost of the program exceeds 1.376 billion US dollars, payment is made in tranches, the first of which was carried out in 2024 and included the purchase of modern ammunition, including 30 mm shells and anti-tank ammunition.

The first machines are expected in Bulgaria by the end of September 2025, followed by further refinement, configuration and integration of systems at the TEREM-Ivaylo plant in Veliko Tarnovo, which is being expanded to create a maintenance center and local production of components. The contract includes conditions for technology transfer and the development of the national defense industry.

Stryker infantry fighting vehicles are built on the basis of an 8x8 chassis with a Caterpillar diesel engine with a capacity of 350 hp, a maximum speed of up to 100 km/h and a power reserve of about 530 km. The Bulgarian vehicles will be equipped with an uninhabited Kongsberg MCT-30 turret with a 30 mm XM813 cannon, a 7.62mm machine gun, and possibly Javelin anti-tank missiles on some variants. The crew is protected by a double V-shaped bottom and armor according to the NATO standard STANAG 4569 level 4. The vehicle is integrated into modern command and control systems with digital communication channels and high mobility.

Overall, this project represents a significant step in the modernization of the Bulgarian ground forces, replacing outdated Soviet equipment and increasing compatibility with NATO in terms of technical and operational performance.

Stryker 8x8