SOFIA, July 27 (Xinhua) -- The Bulgarian Army would form its first reconnaissance drone unit next year, and would use it in NATO operations worldwide, Defence Minister Anyu Angelov said here on Friday.

"In 2013, for the first time we will select and acquire unmanned aerial vehicles for reconnaissance that will become part of the future Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) battalion," Angelov told a press conference.

According to Angelov, the number of drones that Bulgaria would buy would depend on the country's financial resources available.

The minister added Bulgaria was among the participating nations in the Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) system that would be fully operational in 2017.

AGS will enable NATO to perform persistent surveillance over wide areas from high-altitude, long-endurance, unmanned air platforms operating at considerable stand-off distances and in any weather and light condition. Enditem

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