Companies from 16 countries are taking part in Inter Drone Expo 2026, which opened at Inter Expo Centre in Sofia on Tuesday in the presence of Prime Minister Rumen Radev. The event is organized by the Bulgarian Association of the Aviation Industry (BAAI) and is held under the patronage of the Prime Minister.
The specialized exhibition features aerial, ground and submarine unmanned systems, counter-drone systems, air mobility, electric mobility, software and specialized applications in the sector.
The exhibition brings together manufacturers, technology companies, state institutions, research organisations and international partners.
Also attending the opening were Minister of Innovation and Digital Transformation Ivan Vasilev, Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Peev, Minister of Labour and Social Policy Natalia Efremova, and Minister of Education and Science Georgi Valchev.
In his opening remarks Prime Minister Radev said unmanned systems were increasingly being used across sectors, from agriculture and medicine to industry, logistics and defence, with their importance particularly evident in the war in Ukraine, where they “draw the line between defeat and victory”. He recalled that the Bulgarian Armed Forces had held their first drone competition two years ago and said the country had since made significant progress, with first-person-view (FPV) drones now being produced in Bulgaria and Bulgarian military operators using them alongside reconnaissance and kamikaze drones. Radev stressed the need to develop high-tech systems for the benefit of humanity while also creating better means of protection against their destructive use, and highlighted the role of science, business and state institutions in developing Bulgaria’s unmanned systems sector.
BAAI Chairman Todor Ivandzhikov said the organization was working to develop Bulgaria’s manned and unmanned aviation sectors. The exhibition will also feature the first educational materials for schools on unmanned aviation, developed by the association.
According to him, drones are already being used across all industries. He said the sector would continue working with the government to develop Bulgarian production of drones and counter-unmanned aircraft systems.
Anton Puliyski, chairman of the United Drone Society, described the exhibition as a venue showcasing the results achieved so far and creating opportunities for cooperation. In his view, participants in the sector had demonstrated in recent years that they could exceed their own expectations.
Bulgarian Industrial Association President Dobri Mitrev stressed that the event offered opportunities both for new partnerships and for joint work between industry, the government and institutions. According to him, what is being presented at the exhibition represents only a small part of the potential of Bulgarian and European technologies.
Companies from 16 Countries Take Part in Inter Drone Expo 2026 in Sofia THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-06 12:15:00
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