The government has approved a draft agreement with Germany to buy five more IRIS-T SLM air defence systems, the Council of Ministers press office said. The purchase is funded through the EU's SAFE instrument, "Measures for the Security of Europe".

This report follows our earlier story on the plan for five more systems, in which prime minister Rumen Radev said the contract was expected within weeks.

The defence minister is authorised to sign the agreement, but parliament must first approve the updated investment project. Parliament must also ratify the deal after it is signed.

The parliamentary defence committee yesterday approved the updated project by 16 votes to one. It changes the first stage, which covers the purchase of one IRIS-T SLM system, and adds a second stage with five more systems.

The second stage adds warranty cover and initial logistics support, guided anti-aircraft missiles, and extra equipment.

Work can start once the agreement is signed and the contract between Bulgaria's defence ministry, represented by Germany's Federal Ministry of Defence, and the company Diehl Defense GmbH & Co KG is amended.