History


The National Military Artillery School opens on the 18th of October, 1948, following order 107 of the Minister of Defense. The use of artillery vastly changes the pace of fighting and the need for artillery has been proven in many a battle. The quality of the Bulgarian Army's artillery changes and because of this the need for artillery and technical staff also increases. The old system, integrated in the infantry school is no longer capable of delivering the necessary training, which leads to the opening of the new specialized school. This situation in the army is a factor for the short term training of artillery officers. This leads to the need for training of cadets who had previously studied for two years and those who had done a one-year course.

In 1951 the school was relocated in Shumen, where it continuously develops. In 1954, it accommodated a three-year course of education. The following year, the Higher Artillery Officers' School in Samokov was disbanded and the artillery education was relocated entirely in the Shumen branch. In the mid 1950s the school became a centre for training officers for the land and anti-aircraft artillery of the Bulgarian Army. The new 5-year higher education courses started in 1959. These were aimed at better prepared young people. Accordingly, new departments for engineer and technical training were opened. The first PhD and the first habilitated lecturers started work here. New optimal educational plans and programmes were developed which worked corresponded to the high qualifications needed for the future commanders.

After 1962 the faculty for reservists was no longer part of the military school. It still carried out courses for students with a university degree. Gradually, the school became a unified educational complex for training young officers with a technical-engineering higher education, preparing enlisted officers for the artillery, re-training and qualification of personnel for the radio and anti-aircraft defense troops, and also for the needs of the reserve.


In November 1997 the school was accredited in a specialty which became the first in the field of military education. In less than a year the school was accredited and it became the first accredited military university and the second among the technical universities in Bulgaria.

In September 2002 the school was transformed into Artillery, AAD and CIS faculty of the National Military University. It kept its name Panayot Volov and its location in Shumen

Now an administrative and academic part of the university is located at the faculty in Shumen which also includes the Artillery, AAD and CIS faculty, Computer Education and Informational Technologies center, Cadets subdivision, an academic library and also an informational and multimedia complex.




Notable dates and events of the school history:

  • The National Military Artillery School was set up on the authority of the Presidium of the national Assembly, Decree 1657 from 27.11.1948.

  • On 1st May 1949 the school promoted its first graduates of artillery commanders.

  • In the fall of 1951 the school was relocated in Shumen from its original location in Sofia.

  • On the authority of the Presidium of the National Assembly, Decree 1213 from 29.04.1952 the school was presented its battle colours.

  • In 1969 the HNCOAS became part of the military school and in 1972 a new specialty Computing and Automated Control Systems was added

  • On the authority of the Presidium of the National Assembly, Decree 248 from 15.08.1991 the school was named Panayot Volov.

  • In September 2002 the school was transformed into the Faculty of Artillery, Air Defense and Communications of the National Military University.

  • 2006. During the celebrations of the Bulgarian Artillery Day- March 11, the governor of Shumen Krasimir Kostov, together with the Deputy Head of Human Resources in the HQ started Bulgaria's first computer simulator for training artillery observers. Official guest of the festival was the Vice President General Angel Marin - graduate of the Artillery School.

  • In October 2007 a new center was set up, a Center for Language, Computer Training and Information Technology, as a structure of Vasil Levski National Military University.