Bulgaria's special forces are getting modern weapons and gear, says Brig. Gen. Bozhidar Boykov, commander of the Joint Special Operations Command. He says troops are training to use remote-controlled systems and to counter hybrid threats. Boykov spoke to reporters in Sofia at a ceremony for Military Parachutist Day.

Defence minister Dimitar Stoyanov has said Bulgarian soldiers are not expected to be sent abroad. Asked about this, Boykov said any use of the forces is a political decision. The army gets its orders from above and will be ready to carry them out, but the decision is not its own, he said.

Bulgaria is a NATO member and must defend its territory, Boykov added.

Asked whether special forces could join rescue and reconnaissance operations to search ships that have been hit, the commander said: "We are ready to act at any time."

Boykov said special forces adapt quickly to a fast-changing, high-tech environment, and the command tries to get new equipment and gear in short order.

One big challenge is that buying equipment takes years while innovation moves in weeks, he said. Equipment and gear take years to acquire, but new ideas appear within weeks.