Bulgaria acquires first Belgian minehunter Briz

Bulgarian Navy minehunter Tripartite-class NATO eastern flank Black Sea security

The Bulgarian Navy has officially received its first minehunter, the Briz, following a handover ceremony at the naval base in Zeebrugge, Belgium. Formerly the Belgian vessel Bellis (M916), the ship has been renamed Briz and will be stationed at the Naval Base Burgas.

This acquisition is the first step in a trilateral agreement between Bulgaria, Belgium, and the Netherlands to transfer a total of seven Tripartite-class minehunters to the Bulgarian fleet. The memorandum of understanding for this procurement was signed by the defense ministers of the three nations on July 8, 2026. While Belgium and the Netherlands are phasing out these legacy vessels in favor of new automated systems, Bulgaria will manage the maintenance, commissioning, and operational deployment of the fleet.

The procurement is intended to enhance Bulgaria's capability to detect and neutralize sea mines, thereby increasing maritime security in the Black Sea and strengthening NATO's defensive potential on the alliance's eastern flank. Bulgaria also intends to assist in training Ukrainian crews operating similar vessels.

Entities

Belgian Navy · Bernard Falleg · Bulgarian Navy · Burgas · Kiril Mihaylov · NATO · Zeebrugge

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 6 SOURCES] Rear Admiral Kiril Mihaylov signed the handover document with Belgian Lieutenant General Bernard Falleg. novinata.bg · dariknews.bg · www.moreto.net · www.burgas24.bg · novini247.com · +1 more
[● 7 SOURCES] The acquisition is part of a memorandum signed on July 8, 2026, between Bulgaria, Belgium, and the Netherlands. novinata.bg · dariknews.bg · www.moreto.net · www.burgas24.bg · brusselsmorning.com · +2 more
[● 8 SOURCES] Bulgaria is set to acquire a total of seven Tripartite-class mine hunters. novinata.bg · dariknews.bg · www.lokaalnieuws.online · www.moreto.net · www.burgas24.bg · +3 more
[● 6 SOURCES] The vessel Briz will be based at the Naval Base Burgas. novinata.bg · dariknews.bg · www.moreto.net · www.burgas24.bg · novini247.com · +1 more
[● 6 SOURCES] The procurement aims to increase Bulgaria's ability to detect and neutralize sea mines. novinata.bg · dariknews.bg · www.moreto.net · www.burgas24.bg · novini247.com · +1 more
[● 6 SOURCES] The acquisition is intended to strengthen NATO's defensive potential on the eastern flank. novinata.bg · dariknews.bg · www.moreto.net · www.burgas24.bg · novini247.com · +1 more
[● 7 SOURCES] Bulgaria received the former Belgian vessel Bellis (M916), now named Briz. novinata.bg · dariknews.bg · www.lokaalnieuws.online · www.moreto.net · www.burgas24.bg · +2 more