Bulgaria is planning to acquire more than 100 Centauros (also spelled Kentauros or Centaur) anti-drone systems manufactured in Greece, according to recent reports from Greek and Bulgarian media sources.
The acquisition would proceed under the European Union's SAFE (Security Action for Europe) framework, which supports collaborative defense initiatives and funding for EU member states to enhance capabilities against emerging threats, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The Centauros system, developed by Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI), is an advanced electronic warfare platform primarily focused on soft-kill countermeasures through sophisticated jamming to disrupt hostile drones' communications, navigation, and control systems. Originally designed as a ground-based counter-UAV solution, it has been adapted for naval use and has proven combat-effective—most notably during operations in the Red Sea, where it successfully neutralized Houthi-launched drones while deployed on Greek Navy frigates.
HAI is currently developing an upgraded variant that incorporates an active radar with detection ranges up to 40 km, along with optional hard-kill kinetic interception as a backup layer if electronic jamming is insufficient.
Bulgaria's interest aligns with broader regional cooperation, including joint SAFE proposals with Greece, Cyprus, and Bulgaria to advance counter-drone technologies. Cyprus is also reportedly assessing the Centauros system for protecting critical infrastructure and potentially integrating it with its recently acquired Barak MX air defense platform.
This move reflects growing European emphasis on bolstering defenses against low-cost drone threats, spurred by lessons from ongoing conflicts and regional security dynamics.
Related News EU Approves SAFE Defence Funding for Greece
Stay updated with the latest news from Greece and around the world on greekcitytimes.com.
Contact our newsroom to share your updates, stories, photos, or videos. Follow GCT on Google News and Apple News.
