International Drone Defense Association: How Technology is Changing Warfare and Security in Bulgaria and Worldwide
Amid the rapid development and widespread adoption of drones across various sectors, the Bulgarian National Radio program “12+3” featured a highly relevant and important interview with Eng. Stayko Topalov, President of the International Drone Defense Association, and Dr. Ivan Milanov, retired Colonel and member of the World Drone Defense Association.
Why Fight Against Drones?
“The drone industry is developing at an extremely fast pace,” explains Eng. Topalov. “The trend here differs from the classic development model – instead of building a solid foundation and then expanding gradually, expansion started literally ‘from the top’ without prior planning and establishment of adequate protective mechanisms. This urgently calls for the creation of a secure infrastructure and safety systems to ensure that drone usage is not compromised.”
Drones are Changing Warfare
Dr. Milanov emphasizes that modern conflicts – especially the war in Ukraine – have dramatically changed the nature of combat: “Instead of traditional heavy forces and equipment, inexpensive drones now dominate the battlefield, capable of destroying costly military assets. Ukraine produces over a million drones annually, employing them for tactical, strategic, and reconnaissance purposes, with drones even operating in coordinated small formations.”
What is Bulgaria Doing?
“Our country still lags behind in creating a national strategy for drone defense,” the experts note. “Although Bulgaria has companies manufacturing components for drone detection and jamming systems, these technologies are rarely applied domestically and are often exported.”
Eng. Topalov stresses the need for a coordinated national center to unify the efforts of the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior, and Ministry of Transport. “Only through such collaboration can we build effective protection for critical infrastructure objects – airports, energy facilities, and government institutions.”
Challenges and Future Steps
Among the main obstacles are slow decision-making processes and insufficient coordination between institutions. “Legislation allows the military to shoot down threatening drones over critical objects, but in practice, actions remain unsystematic,” the experts comment.
“The good news is that Bulgaria is now moving to accelerate these processes, especially following changes in European defense policy and increased budgets for armament and technology,” adds Eng. Topalov. “It is crucial that Bulgaria utilizes European funds and applies local company developments to strengthen its defense capabilities.”
Global Context and Lessons from the U.S.
Dr. Milanov recalls that the United States is among the world leaders in drone and anti-drone technologies: „As early as the first half of 2025, President Donald Trump issued an order, followed by a series of orders down the chain of command, for the urgent production and deployment of new drone defense systems.“ This happens in a very short time after the incident over Langley Air Force Base at the end of last year, when a swarm of drones repeatedly flew over this strategically important facility without being detected, which highlights the importance of rapid response and the introduction of advanced technologies in this area.
Conclusion
Today, the world faces new challenges, with drones playing a key role in both civil and military sectors. For Bulgaria and Europe, it is vital to develop national strategies, foster local production, and coordinate actions at a high political level to ensure the security of citizens and infrastructure.
The International Drone Defense Association, led by Eng. Stayko Topalov, is laying the groundwork for such cooperation and knowledge exchange, hoping to contribute to a safer future for all.
On behalf of the association, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to Ms. Snezhana Ivanova, whose dedication and professional contribution are of utmost importance to the success of our initiatives. Her efforts support our mission and enhance the trust and international recognition of the association. Thank you, Ms. Ivanova, for your commitment and leadership!
We continue to monitor developments in the sector, support knowledge exchange, and provide access to the most advanced technologies and solutions. Believing that airspace security is a shared responsibility, we call upon all interested parties to join our initiative and work together for a safer future.
