Bulgaria to build space and defence industrial park at former Dobroslavtsi airbase
Government approved a memorandum on 28 October with Starbase Europe for a €100 million project to develop space, defence and dual‑use production.
Bulgaria has announced plans to invest €100 million to convert the former Dobroslavtsi military airbase into a high-tech industrial park and research centre for space and defence technologies. The government approved a memorandum on Wednesday, 28 October to advance the initiative with the company Starbase Europe.
The project foresees transforming the obsolete aviation site on the outskirts of Sofia into facilities dedicated to satellite systems, defence equipment and high-technology manufacturing. Authorities describe the initiative as aimed at strengthening the country’s industrial base and attracting technology firms.
What the complex will include
- Production capacities for high-tech and dual-use equipment;
- Research laboratories focused on space and defence technologies;
- Supporting infrastructure to enable serial production and technological development.
The development team will include the Bulgarian company EnduroSat, which specialises in satellite production and space infrastructure. According to earlier company statements, the former airfield covers roughly three million square metres and is intended to allow serial manufacture of satellite systems.
Bulgaria’s authorities have classified the investment as a priority, hoping the complex will generate high-skilled jobs and foster domestic capabilities in aerospace and defence industries. So far the government has not released concrete construction timelines or an estimate of how many jobs will be created.
The approved memorandum is presented as a formal step toward implementation, but final realisation of the investment still needs to be confirmed.
Photo: Endurosat
