Colonel Dimitar Kirkov, PhD Eng., director
Core business/Main Activities
The Bulgarian Defence Institute “Professor Tsvetan Lazarov” (BDI), founded in 2009, is leading Institute in the defence and security area in Bulgaria and it is main scientific research, experimental and expert organization of the Ministry of Defence. The BDI employs approximately 108 researchers, engineers and experts, carefully selected, based on their knowledge, experience and expertise.
Main activities:
• Research, development and testing in the area of Armament, C4I Systems, Cyber Defence, Military platforms, Soldier Systems, logistic materials and equipment
• Scientific and expert support to the Integrated Project Teams for modernization programs and projects
• Education of PhD students
• Certification of the defense related products
• Airworthiness and certification of military aircrafts and helicopters and those of the Ministry of the Interior Methodological guidance of Central Artillery Technical Testing Ground, where are being performed field and laboratory testing of weapons, ammunitions and special products
Products & Services
BDI is accredited to train in the following PhD programs:
• Radars and Navigation
• Radio-transmitters and Radio-receivers
• Automated System for Information Processing and Control
• Information technologies and cyber security
• Optical and Laser equipment and methods
• Dynamic, Ballistic and Air Systems Flight Control
• Design and construction of unmanned and piloted aircrafts
• Chemical technologies for security and defence
• Methods for controlling and testing of materials, equipment and constructions BDI’s laboratories are testing products, according methods and requirements of Bulgarian, International and specialized standards:
• Testing Laboratory of the Ministry of Defence – performs testings about climatic and mechanical impacts on the products and equipment, ballistic protection and verification of degrees of protection
• Central Testing Laboratory for logistic materials and equipment – performs all kind of testings of leather and textile materials and products
• Central Laboratory for Measuring Equipment – performs calibration and verification of measuring instruments
Projects, References
Main C4I national projects:
• Project “Automated Information System of the Ministry of Defence and Bulgarian Army”
• Project “Cyber defence”
• Conduct on project “Expansion and Development of Fixed Communication System of Bulgarian Army”, and other International cooperation and main projects:
• NATO STO, Estimation, Reduction and Pollution Prevention of Army Test Ranges
• NATO STO, Application of Light-Weight Materials for Ballistic Protection
• NATO STO, Intelligent autonomous agents for cyber defense and resilience
• NATO STO, Human in the Loop Considerations for artificial Intelligence
• Cyber Rapid Analysis for Defense Awareness of Real-time Situation,NATO SPS
• Advanced Multi-domain Environment and Live Observation Technologies,H2020,EU
• European network of Cyber security centres and competence Hub for innovation and Operations,H2020
• Through-foliage detection, including in the outermost regions of the EU,H2020
• Predictive methodologY for TecHnology Intelligence Analysis,EDA, and other
Certificates, Awards, Memberships
BDI is authorized to Issue certificates, as follows:
• Certificates of airworthiness for military aircraft
• Certificates for registration of military aircraft
• Certificates for quality management systems
• Product certificates
The laboratories are accredited by the sole national body for accreditation – Executive Agency “Bulgarian Accreditation Service”. Certified in БДС EN ISO /IEC 17025, specifying the general requirements for the competence, impartiality and consistent operation of the laboratories
