Apr 28th, 2010 - Apr 29th, 2010
Park Hotel Sankt Peterburg, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
In April 2010, AFCEA Varna is organising an International Conference, entitled "Role and Importance of the New Air Force Fighter Model for the National and Collective Security".
The event will focus on the future fighter requirement for the Bulgarian Air Force (BuAF) and related technologies. In this context, the conference will discuss the missions and roles of the air forces in the new security environment, and the contribution of Bulgaria’s new fighter to the national and collective security and to the national economic and technology development.
The conference will be designed to engage all relevant actors in the widest possible debate on the future BuAF fighter requirement.
Confirmed foreign participants include: Brig. Gen. Patrick Wouters, BELAF, Deputy Assistant Director, Plans and Policy Division, NATO International Military Staff; Brigadier General Jiří Verner, Deputy Commander of the Joint Forces - Air Force Commander, Czech Republic; Air Fleet General Alexandru-Petru Găluşcă, Ph.D., Chief of Training and Doctrine, Romanian Air Force Chief of Staff; and General Officer, Hellenic Air Force General Staff.
Confirmed Bulgarian participants include: Anyu Angelov, Minister of Defence (tentative); Gen Simeon Simeonov, BuAF, Chief of Defence; MGen Constantin Popov, Chief, Bulgarian Air Force HQ; senior MoD and BuAF officers.
The conference will feature an exhibition of air force equipment and technologies.
For event registration, corporate sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, please contact secretary@afcea.bg.
Mar 31st, 2010 - Apr 1st, 2010
Melia Grand Hermitage Hotel, Golden Sands resort, Bulgaria
On 31 March and 1 April, 2010 AFCEA Chapter Varna is organising an international conference, entitled “Maritime Security in the Black Sea Region – Strategies and Technologies”. The event, which will mark the 10th anniversary of the Chapter, will be held in Melia Grand Hermitage Hotel, Golden Sands resort, Bulgaria.
The conference will discuss the security framework for the Black Sea Area, especially in the light of NATO’s new Strategic Concept and the EU’s emerging consensus on boosting maritime security, the challenges related to the modernisation of the Black Sea Navies, and maritime surveillance and reconnaissance.
Confirmed Bulgarian participants for the event include, among others: Anyu Angelov, Bulgarian Minister of Defence; Milen Lyutskanov, Bulgarian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; Zaharin Penov, Director, Bulgarian Border Police; Petar Kirov, Deputy Executive Director, Bulgarian Maritime Administration; RADM Plamen Manushev, Chief, Bulgarian Navy HQ;
Confirmed foreign participants include: Kent Schneider, President and CEO, AFCEA International; Vice Admiral Carlos Tortosa, ESP-Navy, Deputy Commander, Allied Maritime Component Command Naples, NATO; Vice Admiral Harry Harris, Commander U.S. Sixth Fleet; RADM Bengt Jarvid, Special Advisor, Swedish Ministry of Defence; RADM Virgil Dospinescu, Commander, Naval Base, Romanian Navy; Capt. Mehmet Orgen, Strategies and Agreements Department Head, Pland and Policy Division, Turkish Naval Forces Command; and Capt. Walter Martina, Italian Navy Representative to the Bulgarian Navy HQ.
The conference will feature an exhibition of naval equipment and technologies.
For event registration, corporate sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, please contact secretary@afcea.bg.
Oct 5th, 2009 - Oct 6th, 2009
Park Hotel Sankt Peterburg, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
In October 2009, AFCEA Varna is organising an International Conference, entitled “South-Eastern Europe Air Forces – Current Status and Ways Ahead”.
The Chapter already has a solid track record of conferences focusing on the Bulgarian Air Force. This years’ event, however, will look beyond the limits of Bulgaria’s air space and will seek to undertake a regional approach to the branch service’s problems. It will discuss the operational framework for the South-East European air forces, their required capabilities and modernisation plans.
The conference delegates will include end-users, executives and industry, including over 60 senior officers and commanders from the air forces of the region.
Confirmed participants in the event include: Gen. Simeon Simeonov, BuAF, Bulgarian CHOD; Lt. Gen. Eduardo Zamarripa Martinez, SPAF, Chief of Staff, NATO Joint Force Command Naples; Lt. Gen. Maurice Mcfann JR, USA AF, Commander, NATO CC Air Izmir; MGen Victor Strimbeanu, Commander, Romanian Air Operations; Air Commodore Johan van Hoof, Assistant Director, NATO Joint Air Power Competence Center; Brig. Gen. Stefan Yanev, Director, Security Policy directorate, Bulgarian MOD; representative of the NC3A Consultation, Command and Control Agency (tentative); Gunnar Borch, General Manager, NATO Airlift Management Agency (tentative); Guy Cherruel, Senior Air Defence Analyst, NATO; Anyu Angelov, Bulgarian Deputy Defence Minister (tentative); and Maj. Gen. (ret) Kiril Maznev, Director of the Offset Programmes Directorate at the Bulgarian Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism.
The Bulgarian Air Force will be represented by around 40 senior officers, including Maj. Gen. Konstantin Popov, Chief of BuAF Staff.
The conference will feature an exhibition of air force equipment and technologies.
For event registration, corporate sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, please contact secretary@afcea.bg.Apr 1st, 2009 - Apr 2nd, 2009
Melia Grand Hermitage Hotel, Golden Sands resort, Bulgaria
In April 2009, AFCEA Chapter Varna (Bulgaria) is organising an International Conference & Exhibition entitled “Maritime Security in the Black Sea Region – Requirements and Capabilities”. The event will discuss the requirements for building modern naval capabilities, the Black Sea context of modernisation, the roles which the Navies of the region can play, and the technologies needed.
By tackling the above-mentioned issues, the 2009 event logically continues the debates of the Chapter’s 2008 maritime conference, which focused on the roles of the NATO and the EU for regional security. The conference delegates will comprise end-users, executives and industry, including over 60 senior officers and commanders from the Navies of the region.
Confirmed participants in the event feature Robert Howell, General Manager, AFCEA Europe, Admiral Paolo La Rosa, Chief of the Italian Navy General Staff, Vice Admiral Minko Kavaldzhiev, Commander of the Bulgarian Navy, RADM (UH) Ante Urlic, Commander, Croatian Navy, RADM Aurel Popa, Fleet Commander, Romanian Naval Forces Staff, Capt. Abdulhamit Sener, Branch Head Strategy and Policy, Plans and Policy Division, Turkish Naval Forces Command and Commisar Alexander Stamov, Head, Bourgas Base of Border Patrol Ships, Bulgarian Border Police. A Hellenic Navy Flag Officer nominated by VADM Georgios Karamalikis will also attend the conference.
Invited speakers for the event also include Brig. Gen. Ilkka Laitinen, Frontex Executive Director, Captain Kristaq Gerveni, Albanian Chief of Naval Operations, and Captain Besik Shengelia, Commander of Georgian Navy.
The conference will feature an exhibition of naval equipment and technologies.
For event registration, corporate sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, please contact secretary@afcea.bg. Oct 1st, 2008 - Oct 2nd, 2008
Holiday Inn Sofia, Bulgaria
AFCEA Chapter Varna (Bulgaria) is organising an International Conference & Exhibition "Building New Operational Capabilities of the Bulgarian Air Force - The Context and Implications of the Updated Plan 2015", which will be held on 1 and 2 October in Sofia, Bulgaria.
The rationale behind and parameters of the updated Plan for the Organisational Development and Modernization of the Bulgarian Armed Forces until 2015, or Plan 2015, its implications for the Bulgarian Air Force, and their transformation and modernisation are all issues which this conference will discuss.
Among the conference delegates will be senior officers and commanders from the Bulgarian Air Force, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence, NATO members’ air forces, and NATO International Military Staff.
Confirmed speakers at the conference include H.E. Spas Panchev, Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria; Gen. Zlatan Stoikov, Chief of Bulgarian General Staff; Vice Admiral Emil Liutskanov, BuN, First Deputy Chief of Bulgarian General Staff; Lt. Gen. Simeon Simeonov, Bu AF, Commander of the Bulgarian Air Force; Lt. Gen. Ioannis Giagkos, Chief, Hellenic Air Force General Staff; Maj. Gen. Marc Rogers, Vice Commander, US Air Forces in Europe (USAFE); Cdr. Neculai-Florentin Bratulescu, Deputy Commander of Operation Air Forces, Romanian Air Force Staff; Ivan Zherkov, Director of Offset Programmes Directorate, Bulgarian Ministry of Economy and Energy; Dr. Velizar Shalamanov, Chairman, George Marshall Association - Bulgaria.
The conference will feature an exhibition of Air Force equipment and technologies.
For event registration, corporate sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, please contact secretary@afcea.bg.
Jun 26th, 2008 -
Melia Grand Hermitage Hotel, Golden Sands resort, Bulgaria
A joint Bulgarian-Romanian Naval event, this conference will discuss the EU and NATO membership of the two Black Sea countries, the strategic importance of the region, the important roles which the Navies of Romania and Bulgaria are required to play, as well as their modernisation plans and programmes.
Among the conference delegates will be over 100 senior officers and commanders from the Bulgarian and Romanian Navies, the Bulgarian and Romanian Ministries of Defence, NATO Navies, NATO International Military Staff officials.
Confirmed speakers: H.E. Spas Panchev, Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria; VADM Emil Lyutskanov, First Deputy Chief of Bulgarian General Staff; VADM Minko Kavaldzhiev, Bulgarian Navy Commander; RADM Niculae Valsan, Romanian Naval Forces Staff; Capt. John E. Cameron, USCG (Ret.); P.E.; Dr. Velizar Shalamanov, Chairman, George Marshall Association, Bulgaria; Gen. Nicolae Spiroiu (ret.), Executive Director, EURISC Foundation, Romania and former Romanian Minister of Defense.
The conference will feature an exhibition of Naval equipment and technologies.
For event registration, corporate sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, please contact secretary@afcea.bg.
Nov 13th, 2007
Park Hotel Sankt Peterburg, Plovdiv
AFCEA Chapter Varna in cooperation with the Bulgarian Land Forces will host an International Conference & Exhibition in Plovdiv on 13 and 14 November 2007, on the eve of the Bulgarian Land Forces Day.
The conference agenda will cover following main themes:
- building operational capabilities of the Bulgarian Land Forces with a view to Bulgaria’s involvement in international military missions;
- the process of modernizing the Bulgarian Land Forces;
- advanced technologies for land warfare.
Confirmed speakers & participants: Maj. Gen. Kircho Kurtev, Deputy Commander of the Bulgarian Land Forces; Lt. Gen. Atanas Jovcevski, Commander, Macedonian Joint Operational Command; Maj. Gen. Angel Zlatilov, Commander of the Bulgarian Joint Operational Command; Brig. Gen. Kadir Akcizmeci, Chief of Technical and Project Management Department of the Turkish Land Forces Command; Col. Teodor Kornea, Chief of Integration and Evaluation Office, Romanian Land Forces Staff; Col. Terikli Kolici, Director J-5, Albanian Joint Force Command; Dr. Velizar Shalamanov, Chairman, George Marshall Association - Bulgaria.
The conference will feature an exhibition of Land Forces equipment and technologies.
For event registration, corporate sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, please contact secretary@afcea.bg.
Oct 2nd, 2007 - Oct 3rd, 2007
Park Hotel Sankt Peterburg, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
AFCEA Chapter Varna in cooperation with the Bulgarian Air Force will host an International Conference & Exhibition in Plovdiv on 2 and 3 October 2007, on the eve of the Official Day of the Bulgarian Air Force.
The conference agenda will cover following main themes:
- The new missions, roles, and required operational capabilities of the Bulgarian Air Force;
- Modernisation plans and programmes of the Bulgarian Air Force;
- Technologies for advanced air, air defence, and space capabilities;
- Building expeditionary capabilities of the Bulgarian Air Force.
Confirmed speakers: Lt. Gen. Jo Godderij, Director, NATO International Military Staff; Vice Admiral Emil Lyutscanov, BuN, First Deputy Chief of Bulgarian General Staff; Lt. Gen. Simeon Simeonov, Bu AF, Commander of the Bulgarian Air Force; Lt. Gen. Laurentiu Maftei (ret), Air Defence Counselor to the Chief of the Romanian Air Force.
Participants: Bulgarian Air Force’s senior officers and commanders; senior officials from the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence, Bulgarian General Staff, the Office of the President of Bulgaria, NATO officials, defence diplomats, representatives of AFCEA International and leading aerospace and defence companies.
The conference will feature an exhibition of Air Force equipment and technologies.
For event registration, corporate sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, please contact secretary@afcea.bg.
Apr 24th, 2007 - Apr 25th, 2007
Kempinski Hotel Grand Hermitage, Golden Sands Resort, Varna
The conference agenda will cover following main themes:
· The Bulgarian Navy transformation in the context of the new security threats, national and Allied responsibilities
· Modernisation plans and programmes of the Bulgarian Navy – procurement of new technologies and new equipment
· New security challenges and naval cooperation in the Black Sea area
Confirmed speakers at the conference include H.E. Simeon Nikolov, Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria; Vice Admiral Emil Liutskanov, BuN, First Deputy Chief of Bulgarian General Staff; Rear Admiral Minko Kavaldzhiev, Commander of the Bulgarian Navy; Rear Admiral Peter Stranchevski, BuN (retd), National Defence Secretary to the President of Bulgaria; Rear Admiral Dorin Danila, Chief of Romanian Naval Forces Staff; Rear Admiral Deniz Kutluk, Assistant Director, Cooperation and Regional Security Division, NATO International Military Staff; Rear Admiral Rinaldo Veri, Director General Navy Planning Department, Italian Navy; Capt. Fatih Erbas, TuN, Turkish Naval Forces.
Among the conference delegates will be senior officers and commanders from the Bulgarian Navy, Bulgarian General Staff, Bulgarian Ministry of Defence, NATO Navies, NATO International Military Staff officials.
The conference will feature an exhibition of Naval armaments, equipment and technologies.
For corporate sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, please contact secretary@afcea.bg. Oct 18th, 2006 - Oct 20th, 2006
Kempinski Hotel, Sofia
“From Risk to Recovery – Identifying and Controlling Business Risks Effectively!”
The aim of TechNet Europe 2006 is to explore risk management strategies in the defence environment by examining likely threats and reviewing options for risk reduction and damage limitation. For more information and registration, please visit TECHNET EUROPE 2006 site.
Session 1 – ‘What keeps you awake at night?’
Session 2 – The Only Certainty is Change
Session 3 – Security: How Nations Work with Industry.
Session 4 – The Bulgarian Solution to Risk Management in the Defence Environment
WHY BULGARIA?
AFCEA International is fortunate to have two of its most vibrant European Chapters in Bulgaria, one based in Varna and the other in Sofia. Their well-established connections with the senior management levels in the Bulgarian Defence Forces, and their enthusiasm to ensure another spectacular TechNet Europe event will guarantee strong attendance at all levels from the Bulgarian defence forces as well as an inquisitive approach to the topic of risk management. The subject is a timely one and will be of interest to all those who seek to employ modern technology against a background of the physical, electronic and human opportunities for disruption.
Bulgaria, which is advancing towards greater Euro-Atlantic integration, officially became a member of NATO on March 29, 2004. The country signed its Accession Treaty with the European Union (EU) on April 25, 2005 which was ratified by all-party support on May 11, 2005, with a view towards joining the EU in 2007. Bulgaria is a member of the United Nations and in 2002-2003 served a 2-year term as a non-permanent member on the UN Security Council. Bulgaria served as Chair-In-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2004.
So – two strong Chapters, a strong country and an active role in NATO, what could be a better opportunity for TECHNET Europe 2006 - I look forward to seeing you there.
Robert Howell
Commodore, Royal Navy (rtd.)
General Manager
AFCEA Europe Apr 26th, 2006 - Apr 27th, 2006
Palace Hotel, Sunny Day Resort (near Varna), Bulgaria
DRAFT PROGRAMME
25 April
20:00 Welcome Reception
26 April
09:00 – 12:00 Session I
09:00 – 12:00 Session I
Opening remarks: Captain Assoc. Prof. PhD Kosta Ivanov Bu N (ret), President of AFCEA Varna; Rear Admiral Peter Strantchevski, BuN (ret), National Defence Secretary to the President of Bulgaria and former President of AFCEA Varna
Commodore Robert Howell, Royal Navy (rtd), AFCEA Europe General Manager
Rear Admiral Deniz Kutluk, TuN, Assistant Director, Cooperation & Regional Security, NATO International Military Staff, "NATO and the Black Sea"
Rear Admiral Minko Kavaldzhiev, Chief of Bulgarian Main Navy Staff, “Naval Cooperation and the New Security Challenges in the Black Sea”
Rear Admiral Mihai Cornel, Chief of Training and Doctrine, Romanian Navy Staff, "Consideration on the Romanian Naval Forces involvement in promoting security and stability in the Black Sea region"
11:30 – 12:00 Q & A
12:00 – 13:30 Lunch
14:00 – 17:00 Session II.
Capt. Orhan Babaoglu, Chief of Naval Strategic Branch, Turkish Naval Forces HQ, "Operation Black Sea Harmony"
Dr. Velizar Shalamanov, Chairman, George Marshall Association, Bulgaria, “Regional Joint Training Simulation and Analysis Center for Black Sea Emergency Management Cooperation”
Phillip Shaw, EUS Associates Ltd, “Port and coastal security, surveillance and management, and a review of the EU position”
Frank Martin, Luerssen Werft, “Logistic Support for a Modern Naval Vessel”
Stephen Chandler, EDS, “Command & Control in a Naval Environment – a Company Case Study”
16:30 – 17:00 Q & A Session
19:00 Cocktail Reception (Palace Hotel)
27 April
09:00 – 11:45 Session III.
Rear Admiral Fikret Gunes, TuN, Allied Maritime Component Command Naples, "Operation Active Endeavour & Relevance For Black Sea Security"
Capt. Dimiter Ispirski, BuN, Head of Planning and Development, Bulgarian Main Navy Staff, “New Armaments and Equipment, New Technologies and Training Systems in Support of Black Sea Security”
Prof. Stefan Vodenicharov, Institute of Metal Science (Bulgaria), "Protection of Ports from Terrorist Attacks"
David Adams, Paradigm Secure Communications, “Military Satellite Communications - The Paradigm Approach”
11:15 – 11:45 Q & A Session
11:45 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 15:30 Session IV.
Cem Birsay, Isik University, Istanbul (Turkey), "The Naval Security of the Black Sea: the Success Story of Regional Co-operation."
Dr. Phillip Petersen, Potomac Foundation (USA), "The Black Sea: Frontier Zone or European Lake"
CAPT. Peter R. Smith, USN (Ret.), Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, "Knowledge-Driven Maritime Domain Awareness Solutions"
John Steele, EDS, “The Importance of Gateways in Achieving International Interoperability”
15:00 – 15:30 Q & A Session
15:30 – 15:45 Closing of the conference Mar 14th, 2006 - Mar 15th, 2006
Park Hotel Sankt Peterburg, Plovdiv
13 March
Arrival and accommodation
20:00 Welcome Reception (Park Hotel Sankt Peterburg)
14 March
08:00 Registration
09:00 – 09:30 Opening of the conference and official remarks
Captain Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kosta Ivanov Bu N (ret), President of AFCEA Varna; Rear Admiral Peter Stranchevski, BuN (ret), National Defence Secretary to the President of Bulgaria, and former President of AFCEA Varna; Konstantin Zografov, Regional Vice President, AFCEA International; Maj. Gen. Simeon Simeonov, Chief of Bulgarian Air Force Main Staff
09:30 – 10:00 Coffee break
10:00 – 12:00 Session I. Moderator: Captain Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kosta Ivanov Bu N (ret), President of AFCEA Varna
Keynote speaker: Maj. Gen. Simeon Simeonov, Chief of Bulgarian Air Force Main Staff, “Vision for the development of the Bulgarian Air Force – challenges and prospects”
Air Vice Marshall H. Gavin MacKay, RAF, Senior Military Advisor to the Head of the Defence Export Services Organisation, United Kingdom; "Future Challenges to the Bulgarian Air Force; a Royal Air Force view."
Lt. Gen. Glen W. Moorhead, USAF, Commander, NATO Component Command - Air Izmir
11:30 – 12:00 Q & A
12:00 – 13:30 Lunch
14:00 – 15:30 Session II. Moderator: Svetoslav Stanulov, Vice President of AFCEA Varna and Chairman of the Bulgarian Airlines Association
Air Commodore Henk Emmens, Deputy Assistant Director, Plans & Policy Division, NATO International Military Staff, “A NATO Perspective”
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, “2020 AF Mission Capabilities Packages Operational Analysis”
Massimiliano Marchisio, Alenia Aeronautica
15:30 – 16:00 Q & A Session
16:00 – 18:30 Visit to the Museum of Aviation
19:30 Cocktail Reception
15 March
09:00 – 12:00 Session III. Moderator: Col. Peter Spasov, Planning and Development Directorate, Bulgarian Air Force Main Staff
Keynote speaker: Maj. Gen. Simeon Simeonov, Chief of Bulgarian Air Force Main Staff, “Modernisation of the Bulgarian Air Force and interoperability with NATO Armed Forces”
Commander Andrew Hartigan, USN, International Programs Director, PMA-265, US Naval Air Systems Command, “Sustaining a Modern Tactical
Air Force”
Dr. Raffaele Esposito, Chairman, NATO Industrial Advisory Group, “The role of NIAG in NATO and the Bulgarian contribution”
Scott Fitzgerald, Executive Director - Europe, Africa and Middle East, Bell Helicopter Textron
Luigi Taddia, Regional Sales Director, AERMACCHI; "AERMACCHI – the Trainer House"
11:30 – 12:00 Q & A
12:00 – 12:15 Closing of the conference
12:30 Lunch Sep 14th, 2005 - Sep 15th, 2005
The Palace Hotel, Sunny Day Resort (near Varna)
On 14 and 15 September 2005, the Varna Chapter of the AFCEA held its 6th International Conference, entitled “The Bulgarian Navy – Transformation and Modernisation in the Context of Black Sea Security”, at the Palace Hotel in Sunny Day resort, near Varna.
The conference discussed the new security challenges and naval cooperation in the Black Sea area; the transformation, the new missions, roles and required operational capabilities of the Bulgarian Navy, as well as the modernisation plans and programmes of the Bulgarian Navy.
Over 130 delegates from 12 countries participated in the conference. Industry sponsors of the event were Fr. Luerssen Werft and Blohm+Voss (Germany), Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine (USA), Armaris (France), Thales Nederland BV (The Netherlands), Atlas Elektronik (Germany), and Kongsberg (Norway). Among the conference delegates were senior leaders from AFCEA International, NATO HQ, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence, General Staff, and Main Navy Staff, the Office of the President of Bulgaria, defence diplomats from USA, UK, and Netherlands. Over fifty of the most senior Bulgarian Navy officers and unit commanders also attended the event.
The conference opened with a speech by Captain Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kosta Ivanov, BuN (ret), President of AFCEA Varna. Opening addresses were delivered by Rear Admiral Peter Strantchevski, BuN (ret), National Defence Secretary to the President of Bulgaria and former President of AFCEA Varna; Rear Admiral Minko Kavaldzhiev, BuN, Chief of Bulgarian Main Navy Staff; Brig. Admiral Nikolai Nikolov, BuN, Chief of J-5, Bulgarian General Staff.
Rear Admiral Minko Kavaldzhiev, BuN, Chief of Bulgarian Main Navy Staff, opened the first working session of the conference with a keynote speech on the transformation and modernisation of the Bulgarian Navy in the context of Black Sea security. Rear Admiral Deniz Kutluk, Assistant Director, Cooperation & Regional Security, NATO International Military Staff, presented NATO’s vision for the wider Black Sea area. Wolfgang Barenberg, Maritime Forces Analyst at NATO International Military Staff, discussed the maritime dimension of NATO’s transformation process.
The afternoon session on Day 1 started with a briefing by Yordan Bozhilov, Director of International Cooperation at the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence, who spoke about the security challenges and naval cooperation in the Black Sea area. Eberhard Mueller von-der Bank, President of AFCEA Bonn and Regional VP Central European Region of AFCEA International, spoke about the mission, objectives, and importance of AFCEA in Europe. A joint presentation by Horst Witschel of Fr. Luerssen Werft and Friedrich-Wilhelm von Krosigk of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems discussed the design and construction of a multipurpose corvette Class 130 for the German Navy. David Beck of Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine spoke about Bulgarian maritime border surveillance and control issues.
The keynote speaker during the morning session of the second day of the conference was Capt. Dimiter Ispirski, BuN, Head of Planning & Development at the Bulgarian Main Navy Staff, who presented the Navy’s vision on the plans and programmes for its modernisation and rearmament. Jaap Jonker of Thales Nederland B.V., spoke about maritime security and Bulgarian Navy transformation and modernisation. Capt. (retd) Michel Perchoc, French Navy, delivered a presentation on the French Navy transformation and ARMARIS solutions. Helmut Damke of Atlas Elektronik (Germany) spoke about integration of naval vessel and coastal surveillance systems for national maritime security.
The afternoon session on Day 2 started with a speech by Dr. Velizar Shalamanov from the Centre of Operational Analyses at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and former Bulgarian Deputy Defence Minister, who discussed the role of CAX in concept development and experimentation in support of navy transformation. Stuart Angus of Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine spoke about the company’s global presence in maritime and surveillance systems. The session concluded with a speech by Capt. Kiril Mishev, Head of Division “Blue Border” at the Bulgarian Border Police, who discussed the missions and roles of this service.
All the presentations were followed by lively discussions and searching questions. All in all, the conference furthered Bulgarian officials’ understanding of international experience and foreign firms’ detailed knowledge of specifically Bulgarian conditions and problems, thus contributing to the implementation of the vital task of modernising the Bulgarian Navy.
Apr 27th, 2005 - Apr 28th, 2005
Park Hotel Sankt Peterburg, Plovdiv
On 27 and 28 April 2005, AFCEA Chapter Varna held its 5th International Conference "The Bulgarian Land Forces – New Missions, Tasks and Required Operational Capabilities" at Park Hotel Sankt Peterburg in Plovdiv.
The conference discussed the new missions, roles, and required operational capabilities of the Bulgarian Land Forces in the context of national and collective security; modernisation plans and challenges for the Bulgarian Land Forces; participation in multinational joint operations and multinational formations; joint training with Allied Forces on Bulgarian territory and joint use of Bulgarian military infrastructure by Allied Forces.
Over 110 delegates from 12 countries participated in the conference. Industry sponsors of the event were Northrop Grumman (USA), Finmeccanica (Italy) and Thales (France). Among the conference delegates were senior leaders from the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence, General Staff, Main Land Forces Staff, Office of the President of Bulgaria, NATO Headquarters, US Army Europe, defence diplomats from USA, UK, and Italy. 60 of the most senior Bulgarian Land Forces commanders and officers attended the event.
The conference opened with a speech by Captain Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kosta Ivanov Bu N (ret), President of AFCEA Varna. Opening remarks were delivered by RADM Peter Strantchevski, BuN (ret), National Defence Secretary to the President of Bulgaria, and former President of AFCEA Varna; Lt. Gen. Atanas Zapryanov, Deputy Chief of Bulgarian General Staff; Lt. Gen. Zlatan Stoikov, Chief of Bulgarian Land Forces Main Staff.
Lt. Gen. Zlatan Stoikov opened the first working session of the conference with a keynote speech on the new missions, tasks and required operational capabilities of the Bulgarian Land Forces in the context of national and collective security. Lt. Gen. Ciro Cocozza, Chief of Staff, Allied Joint Force Command Headquarters Naples, presented the operational activities of JFC Naples and Bulgaria’s contribution to these activities.
The afternoon session on Day 1, moderated by Br. Gen. Atanas Samandov, Commander of the Operational Forces Command, started with a speech by Maj. Gen. Ivan Fenton (CAAR), Assistant Director Operational Division, International Military Staff, NATO HQ, on the challenges and successes of NATO operations. Maj. Gen. Georges D'Hollander, Director NATO HQ C3 Staff, spoke about the importance of network enabled capability to NATO. Industry sponsors of the event Northrop Grumman and Fimeccanica presented their capabilities to support the modernisation agenda of the Bulgarian Land Forces.
Keynote speaker during the morning session of the second day of the conference, also moderated by Brig. Gen. Samandov, was Brig. Gen. Daniel Keefe, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army V Corps, who spoke about combined and joint task force operations. Yordan Bozhilov, Director of the International Cooperation Directorate at the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence, discussed the new security environment in the Western Balkans and the wider Black Sea region. Phillip Shaw, EUS Associates Ltd, presented an onlooker’s view on managing expectations in Bulgaria’s defence modernisation process and in the expected re-location of US bases on the territory of the country. Dean Danielson, Northrop Grumman, presented the National Military Command Centre programme, implemented by the company in Bulgaria.
The afternoon session on Day 2 was moderated by Captain Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kosta Ivanov Bu N (ret), President of AFCEA Varna. It started with a speech by Col. Ivailo Savov, Chief of the Planning and Development Directorate of the Bulgarian Land Forces Main Staff, who presented the Land Forces’ vision for their development and modernisation until 2015. Brig. Gen. Dimiter Dimitrov, Commander of the Bulgarian Special Operations Forces Command, described the roles and tasks of the Bulgarian Special Operations Forces in missions abroad. Industry sponsors of the event Marconi Selenia and Thales presented their solutions for modernisation of the communication-information systems of the Land Forces.
Oct 13th, 2004 - Oct 14th, 2004
Park Hotel Sankt Peterburg, Plovdiv
On 13 and 14 October 2004, the Varna Chapter of AFCEA held its 4th International Conference, entitled "The Bulgarian Air Force - Missions and Tasks in the Context of National and Collective Security", at the Park Hotel Sankt Peterburg in Plovdiv.
The conference, held under the auspices of the Minister of Defence of Bulgaria, was part of the official celebrations of the Bulgarian Aviation Day. It discussed the new missions, roles, and required operational capabilities of the Bulgarian Air Force; the organisational challenges of network-centric warfare; technologies for advanced air, air defence, and air-space capabilities; and modernisation plans and challenges for the Bulgarian Air Force.
Over 120 delegates from 13 countries participated in the conference. Industry sponsors of the event were Pilatus Aircraft (Switzerland), Finmeccanica (Italy), The Hornet Industry Team (USA), Gripen International (Sweden/UK), SAAB (Sweden), Israel Aircraft Industries (Israel) and BAE Systems (UK). Among the conference delegates were senior leaders from AFCEA International, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence, General Staff, and Main Air Force Staff, the Office of the President of Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Parliament, the US European Command, the US Navy, and defence diplomats from USA, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Poland and the Czech Republic. Forty of the most senior Bulgarian Air Force officers also attended the event.
The conference opened with a speech by Captain Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kosta Ivanov (Bulgarian Navy, ret), President of AFCEA Varna. Opening addresses were delivered by Gen. Miho Mihov, Advisor to the President of Bulgaria and former Chief of General Staff; Lt. Gen. Atanas Zapryanov, Deputy Chief of General Staff, and Lt. Gen. Dimiter Georgiev, Chief of Air Force Main Staff.
Lt. Gen. John Dubia, USA (ret), Executive Vice President of AFCEA International, opened the first working session of the conference with a speech on technology and training in coalition warfare. Lt. Gen. Dimiter Georgiev, Chief of Air Force Main Staff, delivered a keynote presentation on the missions and tasks of the Bulgarian Air Force in the context of national and collective security. Louisa Pavlova from the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence presented an expert view on the legal requirements for the implementation of modernisation projects in the Bulgarian Armed Forces.
The afternoon session on Day 1 started with a speech by Svetoslav Shumanov from the MoD’s Armaments and Equipment Policy Directorate, who described the mechanism for implementation of the projects for the modernisation of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, with a particular emphasis on the priority projects for the Air Force. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vladimir Velichkov of the Rakovski Defence and Staff College presented an academic perspective on the principles of development of the Bulgarian Air Force. Sascha Bihrenbrodt, Regional Sales Director of Pilatus Aircraft, spoke about the company’s Integrated Training Systems. Michael Lenton, Vice President Product Policy at Finmeccanica, presented the Italian company’s “Total Air Capability”.
The keynote speaker during the morning session of the second day of the conference was Maj. Gen. Jonathan Gration, USAF, Director of Plans and Policy Directorate (ECJ5), US European Command. Col. Kolimechkov of the Bulgarian General Staff discussed the directions for the modernisation of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. Lt. Col. Axel Nilsson, Swedish Armed Forces HQ, spoke about the modernisation of the Swedish Air Force to meet Sweden's changed defence mission. Theodore Herman, Business Development Manager, Boeing, delivered a presentation on the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
The afternoon session on Day 2 started with a speech by Lt. Gen. Dimiter Georgiev, Chief of Air Force Main Staff, who presented the vision for the development and modernisation of the Bulgarian Air Force during the next decade. Dr. Velizar Shalamanov and Dr. Stoyan Avramov, both of the Space Research Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, delivered a presentation on IFF and recognised common operation picture as a key element of the network-centric warfare concept for the Air Force. Brig. Gen. (ret) Ami Eliasaf, Israel Aircraft Industries spoke, about the company’s advanced avionic, training, radar and UAV systems, based on Israeli combat experience. Mats Olofsson, Marketing Director, SAAB SA, presented the company’s helicopter modification and upgrade competence. Hans Brunner, Product Manager Government Aviation at Pilatus Aircraft, discussed corporate solutions for border security and surveillance.
All the presentations were followed by lively discussion and searching questions. All in all, the conference furthered Bulgarian officials’ understanding of international experience and foreign firms’ detailed knowledge of specifically Bulgarian conditions and problems. In this way, it contributed to the implementation of the huge and vital task of modernising the Bulgarian Air Force.
Jun 7th, 2004 - Jun 8th, 2004
Imperial Hotel, Riviera Resort (near Varna)
On 7 and 8 June 2004, AFCEA Varna held its 3rd International Conference on "Challenges for Bulgaria's Navy and Maritime Sovereignty" at the Imperial Hotel near Varna, Bulgaria.
The conference, organised under the auspices of the Bulgarian Minister of Defence and with the full support of the Bulgarian Navy command, discussed the new missions and roles of the Bulgarian Navy, its required operational capabilities, the Navy?s modernisation and procurement priorities, and the challenges involved in the establishment of a maritime surveillance system for Bulgaria.
The conference was attended by 96 delegates from 14 countries. Industry sponsors of the event were Armaris (France), Luerssen Werft (Germany), ThyssenKrupp Werften (Germany), Thales Nederland BV (Netherlands), Thales Airborne Systems (United Kingdom), Atlas Elektronik (Germany), Raytheon (USA), Aeromaritime (Germany) and Eurotorp (Italy/France). Representatives of a total of 18 leading Western defence companies participated in the event, among them Lockheed Martin (USA), Royal Schelde (Netherlands), Rolls-Royce Naval Marine (UK), and Israel Aircraft Industries (Israel). Among the conference participants were senior officials from the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence, the General Staff, the Office of the President of Bulgaria and the Main Naval Staff, as well as defence diplomats from the USA, the UK and the Netherlands.
The event started with opening remarks by the President of AFCEA Varna, Rear Admiral (retd) Peter Strantchevski, National Defence Advisor to the President of Bulgaria and former President of AFCEA Varna, Vice Admiral Peter Petrov, First Deputy Chief of the Bulgarian General Staff, Rear Admiral Minko Kavaldzhiev, Chief of the Bulgarian Main Navy Staff, Assoc. Professor Boris Kornovski, Deputy Mayor of Varna, and Konstantin Zografov, Regional Vice President for the Mediterranean and Black Sea Region, AFCEA International.
Keynote speakers during the working sessions of the event were Rear Admiral Minko Kavaldzhiev, Chief of the Bulgarian Main Navy Staff, who spoke about the challenges for Bulgaria's Navy and maritime sovereignty in the light of the country's accession to NATO and of the recently concluded Strategic Defence Review; Konstantin Zografov, Regional Vice President for the Mediterranean and Black Sea Region, AFCEA International, who outlined the role of AFCEA in the NATO enlargement and transformation process; Vladimir Grigorov, Head of the Armaments Development Department at the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence, who spoke about the modernisation challenges facing the Bulgarian Armed Forces and discussed the recently passed Government decision to allocate BGN 1.5 billion in the period mid-2004 - 2005 for the start of 11 priority modernisation projects; Dimana Dermendzhieva from the Legal Directorate at the Bulgarian MoD, who described the legal requirements and procedures in the implementation of modernisation projects in the Bulgarian Armed Forces; and Captain Dimiter Ispirski, Head of the Planning and Development Department at the Bulgarian Main Navy Staff, who presented the Bulgarian Navy's vision on the establishment of a National Integrated Maritime Control and Information System.
Innovative solutions and capabilities to support the project for Bulgaria's naval shipbuilding programme and modernisation of the existing fleet were presented and exhibited by the industry sponsors of the conference Luerssen Werft, Thales Nederland, Armaris, Thales Airborne Systems, Atlas Elektronik, Eurotorp, ThyssenKrupp Werften, Aeromaritime and Raytheon.
The organisers were much encouraged-though not at all surprised-by the high level of attendance at the conference. The fact that so many senior executives from foreign defence industry companies, and so many senior figures from the Bulgarian Armed Forces and Ministry of Defence, chose to participate is in itself a hopeful sign for the naval modernisation process. Where interest is so great, implementation will surely be feasible.
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:
General Sponsors
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Sep 29th, 2003 - Sep 30th, 2003
Imperial Hotel
The Bulgarian Navy's new priorities and missions, its modernisation, and other issues related to Bulgaria's NATO accession were discussed in detail at the AFCEA Varna Chapter's second international conference, "The Bulgarian Navy - New Missions, Roles and Capabilities," held on 29-30 September at the Imperial Hotel near Varna, Bulgaria. The conference was organised under the auspices of the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria Nikolai Svinarov. The event featured speeches by representatives of government, nongovernmental organisations and industry leaders; panel discussions by seasoned professionals; and exhibits by defence companies offering naval equipment. Industry sponsors of the conference were Thales Nederland (The Netherlands), Fr. Luerssen Werft (Germany), Atlas Electronik (Germany), Aeromaritime Systembau (Germany), Armaris (France), Eurotorp (France / Italy), Mauser Oerlikon (Switzerland).
The conference opened with a briefing by Robert Howell, General Manager of AFCEA Europe, who spoke about AFCEA International's role in modernising the European defence establishment.
Rear Admiral Emil Lyutzkanov, Chief of Bulgarian Main Naval Staff, presented the Bulgarian Navy's vision on its new missions, roles and required operational capabilities. Svetoslav Shumanov, government expert from the Armaments Policy and Equipment Directorate at the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence, discussed the current status and prospects for the modernisation of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. Dr. Velizar Shalamanov, Chairman of the George C. Marshall Association and former deputy minister of defence of Bulgaria, spoke about C4ISR in Navy Transformation, the role of joint research and advanced technology demonstrations. Dr. Todor Tagarev, Director Programs, Centre for National Security and Defence Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, discussed the Naval Sovereignty Operations Centre (NSOC) architecture development effort.
The afternoon session on Day 1 started with a presentation by Heinz Dockhorn, product manager, Atlas Elektronik, who described the company's Multi Role Combat Management System for NATO interoperability. Jaap Jonker, regional marketing manager, and Hartmut Gunther, senior project manager at Thales Nederland BV discussed a Common Combat System concept for modernisation and new building. Horst Witschel, senior sales director at Fr. Luerssen Werft, presented the company's naval platforms for littoral warfare. Didier Jorioz, regional sales manager at the French Armaris spoke about the company's advanced NATO-compatible solutions for surface vessels.
Capt. Dimiter Ispirski, BU N, chief of the Planning and Development Directorate at the Bulgarian Main Naval Staff, opened the second day of the conference. He described the prospects for modernisation of the Bulgarian Navy, which included construction of new ships and acquisition of modern weapons and equipment; rearmament with major weapon systems and equipment, as well as acquiring second-hand ships from the navies of NATO nations; modernisation and integration of C4ISR and major weapon systems and equipment on board of ships with operational life until 2015 - 2020. Helmut Damke, international business development manager at Atlas Elektronik spoke about future mine warfare scenarios and systems. Jaap Jonker, regional marketing manager, and Hartmut Gunther, senior project manager at Thales Nederland BV, discussed ways for delivering capabilities in naval combat systems and communication systems. Horst Witschel, senior sales director at Fr. Luerssen Werft, discussed future trends and developments in naval warfare.
The afternoon session on Day 2 started with a briefing by Plamen Petkov, director of TEREM - Varna Branch, who presented the company's capabilities for implementation of off-set programmes in the modernisation of the Bulgarian Navy. Andreas Schneider, regional sales manager at Mauser Oerlikon, presented the company's light naval gun system MLG27 and 27mm FAPDS ammunition. Dr. Ing. Claudio Ceccarini, senior marketing & BD manager at the French-Italian company Eurotorp presented their multi-role NATO-interoperable light-weight torpedo. The working part of the conference concluded with a presentation on maritime security by Greg Cumming of Raytheon Systems Limited.
Conference organisers noted that as several countries in the eastern part of Central Europe are preparing themselves to become NATO members, AFCEA is an often sought after partner to support this process. It was also noted that this was the first event at which so many big players of the West's defence industry gathered to demonstrate their strong interest in the modernisation of the Bulgarian Navy. Maybe the interest is not so surprising. Bulgaria's coming NATO accession is associated with a good many projects which could prove beneficial for the Western defence contractors.
Jul 2nd, 2002 - Jul 3rd, 2002
Euxinograd Government Residence
The Bulgarian Navy is trying to make the forces capable of participating in the Peace-Support Operations (PSO) compatible with NATO standards. Their goal is to be able to take part in Peace-Support Operations not only in the Black Sea but also in the Mediterranean. The tasks that can be accomplished are various and include: participation in embargo and humanitarian operations; coastal patrolling; control of navigation; mine countermeasure activities; search-and-rescue activities of ships and aircraft crews, and maritime interdiction. The aim is to have forces in constant readiness, capable of taking part individually or together with the Bulgarian Armed Forces formations in joint operations under the auspices of the United Nations.
These and other issues related to Bulgaria's NATO accession were discussed in detail at AFCEA Chapter Varna's 1st International Conference "The Bulgarian Navy - Global Trends and Local Aspects", held July 2-3 2002 at the Euxinograd Residence, Varna, Bulgaria. The conference was organised under the auspices of the Minister of Defence of Republic of Bulgaria Mr Nikolai Svinarov. The event featured speeches by government, NGO and industry leaders, panel discussions by seasoned professionals and exhibits by defence companies offering naval equipment. Sponsors of the conference were the companies STN Atlas Electronik, Raytheon and Unimasters Logistics Group.
The conference opened with a speech by Eberhard Mueller-von der Bank, Vice President AFCEA Central European Region. Mueller-von der Bank discussed the status of AFCEA International and the European co-operation in AFCEA. He also described the application of today's techniques towards requirements analysis such as General Systems Theory.
Capt. Ralitza Mateeva from the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence spoke about the defence policy of the Republic of Bulgaria. She described the principles and goals of Bulgarian security policy, the priorities of the Government's Defence and Armed Forces Programme, the major features and trends of Bulgarian Defence policy, the resources for Defence and their management, and the MoD vision for the development and the reform of the Bulgarian Armed Forces.
Velizar Shalamanov, Chairman of George C. Marshall Association and former Deputy Minister of Defence of Bulgaria, spoke about the Bulgarian Security Sector Information Network and the discussed Action Plan to advanced C4ISR infrastructure, from the Bulgarian case to its Southeast European and Black Sea regions dimensions. Building an advanced C4ISR infrastructure is crucial for security sector reform, modernisation of the armed forces and for Bulgaria's future membership in NATO and EU, was the motto of Mr Shalamanov's presentation.
Nikolai Bozhilov, Managing Director of The Centre for SouthEast European Studies and President/CEO of one of the co-sponsors of the conference Unimasters Logistics Group Ltd, analysed the new security threats and the role of the Bulgarian Navy. He described the new security environment, the changing role of NATO in an uncertain world, the challenges for Bulgaria as NATO aspirant and the implications for the Bulgarian Navy.
The afternoon session started with a speech by Brigadier Admiral Emil Lyutzkanov, Deputy Chief of Bulgarian Main Naval Staff for Operations, on the new missions and the new structure of the Bulgarian Navy. Admiral Lyutzkanov spoke about the destabilising factors in the region, the reform in the Bulgarian Navy, the NATO interoperability challenges, the new functions of the Navy and its new structure.
CDR Christopher McDonald, USN, the US Naval Attache at the Embassy of the US in Sofia, presented his personal views on the role of future NATO members' Black Sea fleets. He noted that all coastal states are PfP members and there is no likely basis for Naval conflict foreseen during the next several decades. Integration is the trend, not 'division', CDR McDonald stressed. In a peaceful sea he envisioned following roles for future NATO members: coastal defence, deployment, power projection and crisis assistance.
Captain Reinhardt Kuehtze, GE Navy, branch chief "Naval Communications and Electronic Services" at the Naval Staff of the German Ministry of Defence, spoke about the command and control interoperability challenges on the way to NATO. He described NATO's requirements, the existing capabilities and the challenges and presented the German Navy approach in meeting those challenges. There are no cheap and easy solutions, Capt. Kuehtze concluded. Command and Control Interoperability is and will always be a challenge, and each country will have to invest time and money.
Captain Konstantin Popov, BuN, chief of Operations Department at the Bulgarian Main Naval Staff, described regional naval cooperation in the Black Sea and the establishment of a regional Black Sea Naval Cooperation Task Group (BLACKSEAFOR) for humanitarian and environmental operations. Among its tasks are: Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations; Humanitarian Assistance (HA) Operations; Mine Counter Measures (MCM); Environmental Protection Operations. BLACKSEAFOR, established on 2 April 2001, will hold regular joint exercises and is activated at least once a year.
The second day began with speaker Captain Dimiter Ispirski, BuN, chief of the Planning & Development Directorate at the Bulgarian Main Naval Staff, who described the plans and prospects for modernisation of the Bulgarian Navy. The major projects in the shorter term include the modernisation and building of a modern communication system in the Navy, modernisation of some of the ships designated for participation in PfP operations. The modernisation efforts in the mid term will be focused on the design of a new multipurpose naval ship, building of a modern communication system, modernisation of the navy ships with new combat-information systems, modernisation of the auxiliary ships, establishment of a hydrographic information system, modernisation of the coastal communication equipment. The long-term projects include the construction of new ships for the Bulgarian Navy and replacement of the Navy helicopters.
The conference concluded with corporate presentations from the defence companies STN Atlas Electronik, Raytheon and Rohde & Schwarz, who presented their solutions in the field of modern naval weapon systems and communication equipment for the needs of the Bulgarian Navy.
C4ISR in South-Eastern Europe – Problems and Solutions
Conferences Archive
