G.S. RAKOVSKY DEFENSE AND STAFF COLLEGE DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH INSTITUTEARMAMENT, TECHNICS AND AMMUNITION DEPARTMENT THE STATE OF BULGARIAN UTILIZATION.

‘G.S. RAKOVSKY’ DEFENSE AND STAFF COLLEGEDEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH INSTITUTE

‘ARMAMENT, TECHNICS AND AMMUNITION’ DEPARTMENT

THE STATE OF BULGARIAN UTILIZATION PROCESS IN 2007

Prof. D.Sc. Hristo Hristo Capt. (N) Dr. Yancislav Yanakiev



The contents

1. Introduction2. Program for Utilization and Destruction of Surplus

Ammunition in Bulgaria3. Quantity of Surplus Ammunition4. Results from Survey Amongst Experts on Ammunition5. Conclusion



1. INTRODUCTIONThe plenty of surplus ammunition is kept in units of:- the Ministry of Defence,- the Ministry of Interior and- the complex of the military works in Republic of Bulgaria.The concept ‘The Surplus Ammunition’ (SA), in accordance with ‘The Program for Utilization and Destruction of an Surplus Ammunition in the Territory of the Republic Bulgaria’ (the Program) means ammunition which have more than 30 years state on arm or after manufacture, it kept long time in storages or outside of them, or unrealized in the military business, in which had come in storage time irreversible physical and chemical changes.

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The SA are dangerous and economically unprofitable for the reasons:1. The SA are unpredictable as a result in proceeding irreversible processes

in their accoutrements - explosion and ecological accident in area of their storage.

2. The SA storage area there are close to populated area and this raises probabilities for a human victim at incidents;

3. The SA storage increases probability of the non-authorized access up to an ammunition and their use for the terrorist purpose after that.

4. The SA need of storage and preservation under the same conditions, as well as a working life ammunition. This lead up to significant financial expenses, approximately about € 2,5 - 3 million for one year.

5. In spite of the charge on materials and the financial assets for the SA utilization can not be restored from realization of the taken materials from ammunition, the earned secondary materials on utilization and the storage charges, the restoration materials and the moral loss at incidents with ammunition many times exceed the first one.

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Therefore, the delay of SA utilization is:

1. Economically disadvantage;2. Threaten of the population regions safety where the storage has made;3. Make dangerous preconditions for harmful influence on a nature.

The process of utilization has to have the following basic requirements: safety all activities and nature preservation in accordance with norms and laws in the Republic of Bulgaria and in the European Union.

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2. PROGRAM FOR UTILIZATION AND DESTRUCTION OF SURPLUS AMMUNITION IN BULGARIA

The Republic of Bulgaria is a member of organization, which treats utilization questions of the ammunition:

- the Vasenaar’s Agreement,- the Disarmament Conference in Geneva,- the Organization on the Chemical Weapon Prohibition,- the Organization of Safety and Cooperation in Europe,- the Agreement about Conventional Arms of the Countries,- the Vienna’s Document, the Resolution 46/36 L of the United Nations for the Register of Conventional Arms,

- the Protocol 2 on the Prohibition of the Use of Some Kinds of Mines in accordance with the Convention for Especially Inhumane Arms,

- the Ottawa’s Convention for Complete Prohibition Antipersonnel Mines,- the Convention for Prohibition of the Chemical and Biological Weapon.

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On the basis of these documents and according to the laws of the Republic of Bulgaria it is necessary to observe the following conformity:

1. The representatives from the Ministry of environment and water are obliged to observe what technologies and process equipment to correspond to the Bulgarian and European ecological norms for preservation of an environment;

2. The representatives from the Ministry of justice are obliged harmonize the whole program with the Bulgarian and European normative documents;

3. The experts from the Ministry foreign affair are obliged to represent the program to the international organizations and institutions and to help in maintenance of financial assets.

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‘ARMAMENT, TECHNICS AND AMMUNITION’ DEPARTMENT6

3. QUANTITY OF SURPLUS AMMUNITION

The long experience from laboratory and range tests for ammunition has established that after 30 years of ammunition storage, they are not suitable for battle usage.On this base all unwarranted ammunition is divided into 2 groups - to 1977 and after that.The quantity SA is determined in depending on years of their manufacture. Oldest SA have a decrease reserve of chemical stability and considerable deviation from the normal functional characteristics. It does not suppose an opportunity their participation in a complete set of ammunition.



In result, to 01.01.2007 the total quantity approximately makes:

1. SA – 60 kt;2. Explosives and propellants in various of the SA – 16,4 kt :2.1. Propellants – 9,4 kt;2.2. Explosives - 7 kt;3. Metal of shells and cases - 30 kt.4. SA packing material – 12 kt.

The bullets for small arms (machine guns, assault rifles and pistols) have the greatest volume in the SA, after that there is classed anti-aircraft ammunition, light AT ammunition.



The quantitative analysis shows in percentage for each kind of the SA to the total ammunition weight:

- Bullets - 13,4 %;- Light antitank weapons - 7,1 %;- Antitank ammunition - 5,9 %;- Tank ammunition - 17,7 %;- Artillery ammunition - 16,7 %;- Antiaircraft ammunition - 24,1 %.

The tank, artillery and zenith ammunition have the largest volume for utilization - 58,5 % total.



The general SA weight for utilization was: - to 01.01.2003 approximately 70 kt; - to 01.01.2006 approximately 86 kt; - to 01.01.2007 approximately 60 kt. For 1 year weight SA had increased with 5 - 6 kt, that are

referred to 2007 year acceleration/year is with 10 %.This rise tendency is kept as a result of reform in Bulgarian

Army Forces and the aging of the ammunition, which fill up the SA group.

The MoD ambition is to rise of temps of utilization from approximately 6 kt to 10 kt for next 7-8 years to eliminate tendency of heap up SA to 2015 because of reforms.



The Utilized Dismounted Anti-Personal Mines Quantity for Example

1. Anti-Personal HE Mine - approx. 362 000;2. Anti-Personal Fragm. Surrounded Mines - approx. 340 000;3. Anti-Personal Fragm. Directed Mines - approx. 29 000.

Utilized Secondary Products

1. TNT – approx. 0,120 kt;2. Metals – approx. 0,7 kt;4. Plasmas – approx. 0,066 kt;4. Packages – approx. 4417 numbers.

Spent – approx. $ 3 700 000.Restored – approx. $ 300 000.



In case of market realization SA can be sectioned in 2 groups:1. The group where the market realization is possibility directly or after small repair in industrial conditions;2. The group where the ammo has not market interest and their realization is impossible.The ammunition is not introducing trade concern can section on groups:1. After an application of manufacturing processes the materials (metals and explosives) with cost commensurable of technological expenditures can be recovered;2. For which one the expediently physical destruction also that is necessary for making financial expenditures (for a providing of safety and ecological norms) and there will be no realization.The MoD has determined all categories surplus ammunition.



4. RESULTS FROM SURVEY AMONGST EXPERTS ON AMMUNITION

MethodologyThe survey employed semi-structured interviews with 16 experts

on ammunition utilization in Bulgaria (BGR) from the Ministry of Defense (MoD) , the General Staff (GS), Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), Defense Industry, Rakovski Defense and Staff College (RDSC), Defense Advanced Research Institute (DARI) and Naval Academy.

The experts are identified on the basis of their positions in the corresponding institutions, previous experience and the recommendations of their colleagues.



The problemBackground:Council of Ministers decision N 842 from 20 DEC 2001 initiated development

of National Program for Utilization and Destruction of the Redundant Ammunitions on the Territory of the Republic of Bulgaria;

Stakeholders identified in the decision are the MoD, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of the Environment and the water resources, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of justice and the Ministry of transport and communications;

In 2003 the National Program is presented to the Defense and Foreign affairs Committee of the national Assembly. The decision is that the MoD will take the basic responsibility for the utilization of the redundant ammunitions;

Currently there exists Concept of the MoD and Optimal Model (from 26 July 2006 ) for utilization of the redundant ammunitions as a part of the one of Programs for modernization of the Bulgarian armed forces.



Basic dimensions of the problem:

Social dimension: Currently there are 11 bases/storages for preserving the out-of-date

(redundant) ammunitions;There is a possibility to open about 200 new work places if a National

program for utilization of redundant ammunitions is launched. Those qualified people dismissed from the Armed Forces and Defense Industry can be employed;

Financial dimension: According to the estimations in the National Program for Utilization and

Destruction of the Redundant Ammunitions on the Territory of the Republic of Bulgaria from 2001 the total amount of funds for the utilization process is 47 million EURO.

Currently MoD spends about 6 million lava (app. 3 million EURO) per year for preservation and guarding of the redundant ammunitions.



Security of the citizens:

The risks for the security of the citizens are related to:The quality of the control on the technical status and difficulties with the

preservation of the part of the redundant ammunitions due to the comparative large amount; most are kept on open air which creates opportunities for leaks, self-burning, explosives, etc;

In addition, there is a risk for uncontrolled access to the explosives and ammunitions (the bases are guarded by private security forces and the procedure is different from the access to the regular ammunitions in the military installations);

There are risks from fires, leak of dangerous for people’s health chemicals, etc.;

Moreover, old technologies (burning, open blowing method, which are common create risks for the pollution of the environment; There are no armour-boxes and fire-boxes.



SWOT Analysis of the ammunition utilization process (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and, Threats )

StrengthsThe prevailing position of the experts is that the program for

utilization, NOT DESTRUCTION of the redundant ammunitions should be leading;

There are experienced workers from the defense industry, comparative good infrastructure and facilities for the processing of the ammunitions;

The process of utilization creates opportunity for reimbursement of the part of the investments;



WeaknessesLack of well grounded and coordinated national policy, structures, procedures

and control of the process of the redundant ammunitions utilization; Lack of legal and institutional framework for the realization of the; Low, primitive level of the employed technology; lack of modern know-how; No public debate on the risks related to preservation of the redundant

ammunitions and corresponding lack of transparency of the utilization; No strategic understanding of the process as long-lasting and upended (Until

2015 there will be approximately 30 – 35 kt new redundant ammunitions);

It is difficult to retain the experts and experienced workers; No technological documentation for utilization. Nobody from the defense

industry in the period of the production of these ammunitions expected that they will be utilized some day;

Lacking and insufficient financial resources allocated;Lack of cooperation between different structures responsible for the

utilization.



Opportunities

Collaboration with the defense industry; Utilization without direct investments on the part of the MoD (1:3 brass-steel) – the profit from the brass shells covers partly the expenses for their utilization. Partners from the defense industry that show interest are TEREM, Dunarit Co., Stroikomplect Co., Videx Co. There are still 16 000 tons such ammunitions that can be combined in this scheme;

Use of international know-how and expertise;

ThreatsLack of strong political will; Lack of financial resources; Growing conflict of interests among the stakeholders (basically

between the state institutions and private business);



Proposed vision of the anonymous experts

- there is need of strong political will, strategic thinking and multidimensional approach to implement successfully the process of utilization of the SA.

- the Government should develop and implement national policy which means to identify the amounts and the branches of the SA, to provide sufficient funding, to coordinate and to control the process; the utilization should be understood as priority national goal.

- to develop legal framework of the process of utilization as well as to change some existing bills like to bill for public orders regarding contracting procedures.

- institutionalizing of the process for utilization of the SA by establishing a specialized structure to implement the national policy and strategy.

- prioritizing the needs and starting with implementation of balancing schema utilization with national resources 10 kt -11 kt of the SA.



The experts express different position on the following topics:

Development and realization of the Program for utilization of the redundant ammunitions as national or only as a program of the MoD. Those who think that the program should be national are in majority.

Establishment of National center for utilization of the redundant ammunitions or to use present capabilities of military works.



5. CONCLUSION

5.1. The surplus ammunition to 01.01.2007 are approximately 60 kt on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. Their volume has increased with 5-6 kt per year. Relating to 2007 the increase is 10 %. The tendency appears the increasing to be approximately 10 kt because of the structural reform in Bulgarian Army Forces and constant aging of available ammunition, which fill up the SA group. The SA is morally and physical obsolete and in their elements there have come irreversible physical and chemical changes. It has given a reflex on their tactical and technical characteristics and has transformed SA in threat and real danger for serving them workers, for civilians and for the environment in the storage areas.



(5. CONCLUSION – continuation) 5.2. The military factories In the Republic of Bulgaria and the units in

the Ministry of Defence have specified possibilities and necessary producing capacity and technology, which can be used for SA utilization. The factories available capacities and their industrial platforms meet the requirements about work in explosive condition. The factories have necessary storage base for preservation of plenty of SA and their components. The factories have the qualified personnel and in some of the factories there have an experience in utilization of ammunition by utilization antipersonnel mines, engineering and artillery ammunition. Therefore the SA utilization necessary have to do differential, in accordance with possibilities of separate military factories. There is necessary to strive for modernization of technologies and environment safety. Therefore the MoD and the military works must be ready for increase continuing of utilization of surplus ammunition.



(5. CONCLUSION – continuation)

5.3. The utilization process was started and of this 60 kt surplus ammo has continued but we must have capacity to rise of temps of utilization from approximately 6 kt 10 kt for next 7-8 years. The MoD and the military works must be ready for increase continuing of utilization of surplus ammunition.

5.4. The Government should develop and implement national policy which means to identify the amounts and the branches of the redundant ammunitions for utilization, to provide sufficient funding, to coordinate and to control the process. Transparency and accountability of this process is a must, the utilization should be understood as priority national goal.

Thank you for attention!



G.S. RAKOVSKY DEFENSE AND STAFF COLLEGE DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH INSTITUTEARMAMENT, TECHNICS AND AMMUNITION DEPARTMENT THE STATE OF BULGARIAN UTILIZATION.

Documents

ammunition department

surplus ammunition sa

rakovsky defense

years of ammunition

quantity of surplus

plenty of surplus ammunition

working life ammunition

sa storage area