Todor Tagarev, a former Bulgarian Defense Minister, has criticized Bulgaria’s continued reliance on outdated Soviet military equipment. He argues that Bulgaria should prioritize acquiring new F-16 fighter jets and investing in drone defense systems. Tagarev highlighted Romania as a successful example, noting their ability to shoot down drones using second-hand F-16s. He believes Bulgaria is misallocating its limited defense resources by not modernizing its air force. The former minister's comments were made during a televised interview with bTV and reported by The Sofia Globe. Tagarev’s criticism emphasizes the need for Bulgaria to adapt to modern warfare challenges, particularly regarding drone technology.