EnduroSat is transforming the abandoned airport in Dobroslavtsi, Bulgaria, into one of the most modern space hubs in Europe

2026-08-173 min.

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The military airfield in Dobroslavtsi near Sofia, abandoned for a quarter of a century, is on its way to becoming one of Europe’s most modern centers for space and defense technologies. The Bulgarian company EnduroSat has signed an official memorandum of understanding with the government, marking the start of the gradual transformation of the vast 290-hectare site, BalkanEngineer.com learned from an official EnduroSat press release.

The reason for this large-scale project is the rapid growth of the Bulgarian satellite manufacturer. The new satellites EnduroSat is developing are already massive spacecraft weighing between 1 and 3 metric tons. When fully deployed, their solar panels will have a wingspan comparable to that of a Boeing 737 passenger jet. That is why the assembly and testing of such equipment can no longer be carried out at the company’s current facility in Sofia, even though it was opened in 2023.

To address this issue, the new facility in Dobroslavtsi will bring the entire production cycle under one roof. The site will feature assembly lines for mass production, high-tech testing laboratories, engineering offices, and a logistics hub. The first phase of the project will last three years and includes the renovation of the existing runway. It will retain its aviation function to serve both the needs of the state and the specific logistics requirements of the space company.

In addition to its industrial component, the new complex will also serve as a training facility for future specialists in the sector. In collaboration with Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski,” the “Georgi Benkovski” Military Academy, and the “N. Y. Vaptsarov” Naval Academy, EnduroSat will establish an educational campus for its joint master’s program in space engineering. This will give students the opportunity to learn in a real-world environment, side by side with the engineers who assemble satellites for international missions.