Bulgaria’s decisions regarding security measures related to drones are delayed. This is a topic that has been discussed globally for at least 10 years. Airports in Europe have had proven and effective solutions in place for at least five years—solutions that are also used worldwide. This was stated by anti-drone expert Stayko Topalov in the program "Metronome" on Radio "Focus".
According to him, the amendments to the Civil Aviation Act aimed at strengthening control over the use of unmanned aerial vehicles are inadequate, as they lack clear specifics about the technologies that should be used, the exact penalties to be imposed, and no clear protocol indicating who is responsible when a violation occurs.
"Quick decisions need to be made, but right now we’re just stalling on yet another issue that’s part of a much bigger mechanism. I don’t see a solution coming until the end of the year, while the threat grows with each passing day," he said, adding that Bulgaria still lacks a registry that tracks drone violations over strategic sites such as airports, military bases, prisons, and so on.
According to the expert, Bulgarian companies still cannot offer a complete solution to the problem.
"We have companies that provide one component of the puzzle, but we don’t have a single company that can offer a comprehensive solution. The proof of resilience for Bulgarian systems is still missing. What we need is a proven solution—one with a track record, one that will allow us to build further from here. We have good companies, and we have individuals who are true experts—but each of them only handles a part. There must be a clear strategy and someone to unite and lead them in this direction, and that must come from the highest level, by uniting the three ministries: Defense, Transport, and the Interior."