Sofia, Bulgaria on 29 September - 01 October

Tailored to the challenges of the region, Armoured Vehicles Eastern Europe provides a platform for the discussion of armoured vehicle deployment, procurement, cooperation, and sustainment.

As the Eastern European security context is prompting armies to prioritise the modernisation of mechanised units and acquisition of new platforms offering them increased versatility, this event will bring key decision leaders together to discuss these developments.

This September we will welcome speakers from our 2019 host nation Bulgaria and other nations including:

Take a look at our library of content including a full report on the development and modernisation programmes in the media centre here.

Throughout Eastern Europe we are seeing a renewed focus on armament modernisation programmes – the region has emerged as the outright leading spender in the military ground vehicle market and in 2019 will see the fastest defence spending growth in the world.

Bulgaria is the most recent country in the region to announce a defence investment project for the procurement of IFVs – more specifically, the acquisition of 150 combat and support vehicles for establishing new battle groups within the Bulgarian Land Force mechanized brigades. This modernisation project, the most important one for the service in recent history, is estimated at BGN 1.464 billion over the next 12 years. 

Download the piece to learn more about the programme >>

Bulgaria is hosting this year’s Armoured Vehicles Eastern Europe, chaired by Lieutenant General (Ret.) Ben Hodges. He will be joined on the speaker panel by: 

• Lieutenant General Dimitar Iliev, Deputy Chief of Defence, Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria, who will deliver the keynote welcome address 
• Colonel Ivan Tashev, State Expert, Project Management Directorate, Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria 
• Colonel Associate Professor Dr. Borislav Genov, Director of Armament and Equipment Development Directorate 
• Professor Tsvetan Lazarov Defence Institute, Bulgarian Armed Forces 
• Colonel Kolya Stoev, Chief of Military Geographic Sector, Operations Department, Bulgarian Land Forces 

Over the past 6 years, Armoured Vehicles Eastern Europe has established itself as the premier forum in the region for military practitioners, research and development colleagues and partners and providers in industry- it’s a great opportunity to get together, for meaningful discussion of armoured vehicle deployment, procurement, cooperation, and sustainment in Eastern Europe. Commanders of Mechanised and Armoured Units, acquisition experts and capability development specialists from the region are under invitation, alongside wider NATO colleagues from North America and Western Europe. More specifically, users from Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine and Croatia will join Bulgaria their priorities and challenges for advancing mechanised fighting capability.

Following the continuous growth of the Armoured Vehicles Eastern Europe conference over the last six years we are delighted to announce that the conference will be taking place in Sofia, Bulgaria focusing on the major modernization plans the Bulgarian forces have planned in procuring a new wheeled vehicle fleet as we as modernization opportunities.

Find out more information on the event in the full event guide here >>

Or if you have any further queries partner@iqpc.co.uk

Armoured Vehicles Eastern Europe returns for 2019 as this unique event offers the opportunity to meet with Commanders of Mechanised and Armoured Units, acquisition experts and capability development specialists, alongside a wider NATO colleagues from North America and Western Europe to discuss tailored regional challenges including the focus on the development of mechanised units.

Find out more on those professionals and organisations that will be in attendance in the attendee list available here.

If you would like more information on the event, please view the full event guide here.

Or if you would like to be in attendance, find out more on the packages available here.

The Eastern European current security context is prompting armies to prioritise the modernisation of their mechanised units and the acquisition of new platforms which offer them versatility in roles, speed and mobility. Ahead of this year’s Armoured Vehicles Eastern Europe conference, Defence IQ have compiled an update on the current armoured vehicles key ongoing programmes and requirements of the region’s armies, the majority of which will be present at the event. 

Download the report now >>

Download the report to learn more about:

• Bulgaria’s BGN 1.464 billion acquisition of 150 armoured vehicles – 90 combat and 60 special-purpose and support vehicles
• Czech Republic’s plans to procure 210 tracked armoured vehicles as a replacement for its obsolete Russian-designed BPM-2 tracked IFVs and APCs
• Slovak Republic’s US$1.3 billion purchase of a range of new armoured transport vehicles to replace Soviet-era OT-64 legacy platforms
• Estonia’s plans for procurement of IFVs, the improvement of anti-tank capability of manoeuvre units and the replacement of the current light weapon systems

The following countries, which are mentioned in the report all have active procurement programmes and will be attending Armoured Vehicles Eastern Europe 2019:

• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Hungary
• Slovak Republic
• Ukraine

Other countries mentioned in the report are as follows:

• Estonia
• Lithuania
• Poland
• Romania
• Russia
• Slovenia
• Turkey

Get a preview of the report below:

CZECH REPUBLIC

The Czech MoD is looking to procure 210 tracked armoured vehicles for the army in order to replace its current fleet of obsolete Russian-designed BMP-2 tracked IFVs and APCs. Once the contract – worth $2 billion – is signed, deliveries are anticipated to begin in 2019 and take place over the ensuing ten years. Among the expected bidders are Zetor Tractors, which has developed a new tracked IFV for military-use in the form of the WOLFDOG.

January 2017 saw the Czech MoD award a $82 million contract to…

The armoured vehicle market in Eastern Europe is flourishing, with over US$4 billion under contract for new vehicles, along with modernisation programmes.

Ahead of Armoured Vehicles Eastern Europe, Defence IQ compiled a regional market report, outlining key ongoing programmes and requirements. Learn more about:

• Czech Army's plans to procure 210 tracked armoured vehicles to replace its BMP-2 tracked IFVs
• Romania's contract with GDELS to receive 227 PIRANHA 5 8x8 wheeled armoured vehicles
• Poland's Rosomak Battle Management Systems programme

Hungary's upcoming Zrínyi 2026 defence plan is a sign that the European land systems market is back on track

The European armoured vehicles market is now estimated to lead the world over the next ten years, and will likely account for around one third of the global requirement.

Among those nations investing more readily into these platforms is Hungary, which recently announced it will increase total defence spending to 2 per cent of GDP as early as 2024. 

Defence IQ spoke with Attila Zsitnyányi, president of the Defence Industry Association of Hungary, to discuss the exciting progress being made in his home nation...