Unmanned Aviation Dialogues: Civil, Defense and Future Perspectives
The Expert Forum, organized by BAIA within the framework of Inter Drone Expo 2025, brought together industry leaders, academic teams, institutions, and companies who presented their vision for the future of unmanned aviation. The interest was remarkable — the hall remained full throughout the entire day, and the questions from the audience kept the dialogue active and engaging.
The forum was officially opened by Colonel Dr. Anton Ivanov Bankov, Deputy Commandant of the “G. S. Rakovski” Military Academy, and Vesela Trifonova, Head of the UAS Department at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation Administration.
Daedalean (Kalin Stoyanov) presented how artificial intelligence can replace human judgment in critical situations — from navigation in GPS-denied environments to the detection of air traffic and power lines. Their systems are already undergoing certification by both EASA and the FAA.
olicies and regulations – experts from CAA, BESCO, and Rud Pedersen discussed the future of the European drone market, which is expected to grow from $5.6 billion in 2025 to over $32 billion by 2033.
A special guest was Julie Garland, President of JEDA, who presented the organization and its partnership with BAIA – a strong example of international cooperation and exchange of expertise.
JEDA (Joint European Drone Associations) is the European network that brings together national drone associations and serves as a key partner of the European Commission, EASA, and other institutions in shaping policies and standards.
The partnership between BAIA and JEDA is key, as it gives Bulgaria a voice in the European decision-making process, ensures the exchange of expertise, and opens access to international projects and funding.
HADES showcased their wildfire protection solutions – the autonomous drones PENV-250 and PENV-350 with a range of up to 420 km, equipped with SWIR optics capable of detecting fire sources even through fog and smoke. In addition, they presented the STORMER system – an AI-based technology designed to prevent hailstorms through autonomous drone missions deploying silver iodide.
The “G. S. Rakovski” Military Academy – the oldest higher military school in Bulgaria (founded in 1912) – presented its mission and activities as a leading institution in the field of national security and defense. The Academy trains Bulgarian and international military personnel, civilian staff, and students in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs, with a focus on strategic leadership, cybersecurity, aviation safety, crisis management, and the protection of critical infrastructure.
The institution demonstrated its modern approach through the integration of new technologies, simulations, and research projects. A special highlight was the testing of Fraga-X, which showcased how advanced UAV platforms can be applied for training and applied research. This emphasized the Academy’s role as a strategic hub for innovation, cooperation with NATO and the EU, and the development of a new generation of security and defense experts.
The topic was presented by Colonel Dr. Anton Ivanov Bankov, Deputy Commandant for Administration and Logistics at the Military Academy, and Prof. Dr. Petar Hristov, from the Department of Air Force and Air Defense at the Military Academy.
The “Georgi Benkovski” Air Force Academy presented its comprehensive training system for specialists in the field of unmanned aviation. Cadets and students undergo courses in drone automatic control, robotic systems, radio-electronic and aviation equipment, as well as practical internships. The training is structured to conclude with official examinations by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation Administration, leading to certifications for categories A1/A3 and A2, ensuring full compliance with European regulations.
The institution also reported concrete research results within the framework of the National Program “Security and Defense” – including algorithms for drone image processing, models of various types of multicopters, analysis of flight resilience in urban environments, and the development of a quadcopter capable of up to 1 hour of flight with a 30 km video transmission range. Among its future projects, the Academy highlighted the MICRO-EYE tactical system, a heavy drone with a payload capacity of 50–100 kg, FPV platforms for training and operations, as well as a combined UAV with vertical take-off capability. The topic was presented by Colonel Assoc. Prof. Dr. Martin Kambushev and Colonel Assoc. Prof. Dr. Penyo Penev.
Security and anti-drone systems – Trokuttest / D-Fend Solutions showcased their “cyber-takeover” technologies, enabling the safe interception and landing of unauthorized drones without jamming or collateral damage.
Among the special guests and partners at the forum were: Colonel Dr. Anton Ivanov Bankov, Deputy Commandant for Administration and Logistics at the Military Academy; Prof. Dr. Petar Hristov, Department of Air Force and Air Defense at the Military Academy; Daniela Mincheva – Directorate General of Civil Aviation Administration; Metodi Stoyanov – Head of Security Department at Vasil Levski Airport Sofia, SofConnect; Gergana Aneva – Rud Pedersen Public Affairs; Alexander Noutsov – BESCO; Angel Merdzhanov and Kircho Kirov – Optix.
All of them contributed with their expertise and vision, while the partners from institutions and business demonstrated the value of dialogue between regulators, industry, and the academic community. It was precisely this combination that made the discussions particularly engaging and beneficial for the participants.
In the panel dedicated to air mobility, hydrogen and electric applications, moderated by Todor Ivandjikov (IAS), a special guest was Dr. Vasil Todorov, Deputy Chairman of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), who presented a highly engaging topic on the upcoming changes in U.S. legislation for unmanned systems. He outlined the key role of the new Part 108, which will enable routine BVLOS flights without individual approvals, introduce new operator certificates, mandate detect-and-avoid systems, and allow multi-drone operations.
These changes will unlock large-scale opportunities for deliveries, infrastructure inspections, energy, and public safety. It was emphasized that early preparation – through technology, training, and security policies – is critically important for the industry to benefit from the new regulatory framework. The participation of BCCI in the forum brought a valuable international perspective and raised the question of how Bulgaria can position itself effectively in line with global trends.
The highlight of the day was the emotional presentation by Nikolay Nikolov from NIKI Rotor Aviation, which deeply moved all attendees. The panel also featured Prof. Dimitar Nedyalkov – a close friend and key expert whose knowledge and support have been instrumental in the company’s growth. Together, they demonstrated how vision, passion, and professionalism can transform a Bulgarian project into a globally recognized manufacturer of autogyros. Their story showed how passion can turn into worldwide success – from a family initiative to a high-class autogyro producer acknowledged in 15 countries across 4 continents.
The concluding presentation was delivered by Alpha-Metal – Drone Academy, which showcased a model for systematic training and preparation of specialists for both military and civil drone operations.
We thank all participants and guests for their shared expertise, inspiring discussions, and common vision. The forum clearly demonstrated that Bulgaria is already an active player in the global drone ecosystem.
