MTG Dolphin Launches Bulgarian Navy's Second MMPV

The second of two Multipurpose Modular Patrol Vessels (MMPVs) being built for the Bulgarian Navy by NVL Group has been launched by subcontractor MTG Dolphin.

The new vessel, set to be named "Smeli" which means “Courageous” in Bulgarian, was launched last week at MTG Dolphin's shipyard in Varna, Bulgaria. Her delivery is due in the third quarter of of 2026, a year after the scheduled completion of her sister ship, Hrabri, which means “Brave.”

The Bulgarian Ministry of Defence awarded the contract for both ships worth Lv984m — approximately £415m — in 2020. The finished vessels will be 90 meters long, with a displacement of 2,300 tons, and they will feature a wide variety of naval capabilities, supported by an integrated Saab Combat Management System (CMS).

The largest current shipbuilding project of the Bulgarian Navy, the vessels are designed to enable it to counter air, land, surface and undersea threats. They will be armed with both surface-to-surface (SSM) and surface-to-air missiles (SAM), as well as both 76mm and 35mm naval guns.

You can read more details on the MTG Dolphin website