The Novo Selo Training Area () is a major Bulgarian military training facility established in 1962, presently used by other NATO nations as well. The range has a surface area of , and is situated from Bezmer Air Base, and from the port of Burgas in Sliven Province, Bulgaria.
History The facility has its designated areas and sectors for tank shooting, and nuclear, biological, and chemical defense and reconnaissance training. The Novo Selo Training Area is highly appreciated by NATO experts and troops, and has become the favored site of annual joint US and Bulgarian troops exercises since 2004. It supports live-fire and maneuver exercises of Bradley, Abrams, and Stryker units.
The Novo Selo Training Area is among the joint US-Bulgarian military bases established according to the 2006 Defense Cooperation Agreement between the United States and Bulgaria. The US Army started in late 2008 a $61.15 million investment in the development of new housing and other infrastructure for the American troops training at Novo Selo Training Area.US Military Chief to Land in Novo Selo. Standart News, Issue 786, 13 October 2008. The training area has a single helipad with five additional landing zones on or near the training area as well as a parking apron for up to five aircraft. Other infrastructure facilities include fuel points, barracks, an Aid Station as well as DFAC and MWR facilities.
Since 2016, the Area Support Group Black Sea (ASA-Black Sea) supported the American soldiers deployed at Novo Selo. In June 2024, ASA-Black Sea was transformed into the US Army Garrison Black Sea (USAG Black Sea) headquartered at the Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base in Romania and subordinated to the United States Army Installation Management Command.
As of 2024, around 100-150 soldiers work as staff at the training site, less than the maximum of 2,500 personnel allowed.
Notable Visits 19 December 2024 - Secretary General of NATO Mark Rutte 11 March 2025 - President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović
See also Bulgarian–American Joint Military Facilities List of American military installations
References
Further reading W. Alejandro Sanchez, Bulgaria, U.S. Bases and Black Sea Geopolitics, Power and Interest News Report, 29 August 2007. L. Ivanov and P. Pantev eds., The Joint Bulgarian-American Military Facilities: Public opinion and strategic, political, economic, and environmental aspects, NI Plus Publishing House, Sofia, 2006 (in Bulgarian) L. Ivanov ed., Bulgaria: Bezmer and adjacent regions — Guide for American military, Multiprint Ltd., Sofia, 2007,