Yemen was Bulgaria's Biggest Arms Export Partner in 2010 - UN

In 2010, Bulgaria acted as a mediator in an arms deal between Serbia and Cambodia for 50 T-55 tanks, according to the updated UN Register of Conventional Arms (UNROCA).

The Serbian tanks were first delivered to Bulgaria, from where they were re-directed to Cambodia, Bulgarian Dnevnik daily reported Tuesday.

The document also shows that Bulgaria sold 44 home-made armored personnel carriers (APCs) and 4 BRDM-2 amphibious armored patrol cars to Cambodia over the past year.

Bulgaria exported a total of 143 mortars of 81-120mm caliber to Uganda and Yemen.

At the same time, Bulgaria bought 5 Wildcat armored combat vehicles from Israel in 2010.

In 2010, the country actively exported small arms and light weapons, Yemen being the biggest buyer with a total of 40 700 assault rifles, 1000 light machine guns, 900 shoulder-fired grenade launchers and 170 60mm small-caliber mortars.

The US bought from Bulgaria 41 man-portable anti-tank missiles, 355 shoulder-fired grenade launchers and 658 revolvers, while Canada purchased 15 140mm shoulder-fired grenade launchers, 13 23mm ship-launched anti-aircraft missile systems, 76 assault rifles and 10 light machine guns.

According to UN data, by January 01, 2011, the Bulgarian Army had a fighting equipment consisting of 564 battle tanks, 738 armored fighting vehicles, 1161 heavy-caliber artillery systems , 57 combat aircraft and 19 military helicopters, of which 184 artillery systems had been earmarked for export.