Bulgarian shipbuilder reveals new Medium USV concept

During the International Defence Equipment and Services Exhibition HEMUS 2026, held in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, from 3–6 June 2026, the European shipbuilder MTG-Dolphin officially presented its Proteus 36 MLC concept. The 37-metre Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV), also available in manned option, attracted significant interest from international delegations, defence industry representatives, major equipment and sensor suppliers and naval experts. Designed for modern Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO) and contested AntiAccess/Area Denial (A2/AD) environments, the Proteus 36 MLC delivers the combat capability of a conventional corvette within a highly efficient high-speed 160-ton modular platform equipped initially with 3D radar, fire control radar and 30mm Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) and open deck for a number of 20 feet mission modules. My story for Naval News, here.

Bulgaria’s First MMPV 90 Corvette Begins Sea Trials

The lead ship of the two 2,300 ton MMPV 90 corvettes for the Bulgarian Navy, a design by the German shipbuilder NVL Group and constructed by the local shipbuilder MTG Dolphin Shipyard in Varna, commenced sea trials. Roughly two years after MTG Dolphin Shipyard PLC launched the first of the Bulgarian Navy’s two new 90-meter, heavily armed Multi-Purpose Modular Patrol Vessels (MMPV 90), built under the management of the German shipbuilder NVL Group (formerly Lürssen Defence) and with the participation of numerous Bulgarian suppliers, the ship began its sea trials on November 11 in Varna Bay and the Black Sea. Following the successful completion of these trials, the vessel will be formally accepted into the Navy. My story for Naval News, here.

Bulgaria’s First Modern Corvette Launched by Local Shipyard

On August 4, 2023, in Varna, the Bulgarian shipbuilder MTG Dolphin Shipyard PLC launched the first of the two new 2,300-ton corvettes / multi-purpose modular patrol vessels (MMPV) 90 for the Bulgarian Navy, under the management of the German shipbuilder NVL Group (formerly known as Lürssen Defence) which is the prime contractor of the project and with the involvement of numerous Bulgarian suppliers. The name of the new vessel will be “Hrabri”, meaning “Brave” in Bulgarian. It is a proud inheritor of the Bulgarian Navy’s torpedo boat of the same name from the beginning of 20^th century. The second ship will be named “Smeli“. The vessels, which are about 90 meters long (hence the designation MMPV 90) and with a beam of 13.5 meters, are being built under a contract signed with Germany’s NVL Group on 12 November 2020 valued at €420 million excluding weapon systems and ammunition. My story for Naval News, here.