Bulgaria and weapons of mass destruction
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| Biological, Chemical, Nuclear, Radiological |
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| Proliferation |
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| Treaties |
| List of treaties |
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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.[1] As of 2011 Bulgaria does not possess any weapons of mass destruction.
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[edit] Missile program
Bulgaria had a significant missile arsenal, including 67 SCUD-B, 50 FROG-7 and 24 SS-23 ballistic missiles.[2] 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.[2]
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.[3] In 1994 the country bought 46 conventional warheads for its SCUDs from Russia.[2] 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.
[edit] 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 Convention in 1994 and dismantled them by 2000.
[edit] Biological weapons
Bulgaria has signed and ratified the Biological Weapons Convention, and there is no information indicating that the country has ever developed such weapons.
[edit] 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 Kozloduy with its own plutonium storage facility.[4]
A nuclear research facility with a 200 kW pool-type reactor is in operation in Sofia.[5] The reactor of the facility produces some nuclear material, which is stored near Novi Khan.[6]
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.[1]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b GlobalSecurity.org - Bulgaria special weapons
- ^ a b c StandartNews.com "Никой не разбра, че горихме ракети през 1973 г. (in Bulgarian)
- ^ Duma.bg "България вече е ракетна сила !" (in bulgarian)
- ^ Ново хранилище за използвано ядрено гориво се открива в АЕЦ "Козлодуй", Dnevnik, 12 May 2011
- ^ Nuclear Scientific and Experimental Centre
- ^ Министерство на труда и социалната политика (in bulgarian)
