As security concerns intensify across Europe, Israeli manufacturing company 4Model is looking to expand its military production capacity on the continent.
Founded by CEO On Golan in 2012, 4 Model is a dual-use, one-stop-shop manufacturing company specializing in machining, electronic packaging, and 3D printing, serving customers across various sectors, including hi-tech, medicine, education, military, and security.
Golan and other senior company officials recently completed a high-profile roadshow in Sofia, Bulgaria, hosted by former Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev.
Meetings were held across the country with senior government and industrial stakeholders, focusing on Bulgaria’s growing security needs and the potential to integrate Israeli solutions into the country’s defense systems.
Plevneliev, Bulgaria’s 4th president from 2012-2017, the Bulgarian representative and partner at the Israeli innovation platform IMPROVATE, played a central role in organizing the visit. IMPROVATE specializes in connecting Israeli technologies with governments and industries worldwide.
“In recent years, we have been bringing the very best of Israeli companies to Bulgaria,” he said. “The visit of the Israeli company generated great interest within the local industry, and we introduced them to the most senior stakeholders in the country, who also expressed significant interest in the service.”
The visit came shortly after Bulgaria allocated new, dedicated budgets for upgrading its defense capabilities as part of a broader national effort to prepare for evolving regional and international threats.
Rearming Europe
US President Donald Trump’s hostility towards Greenland and NATO, as well as Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, has rattled Europe’s strategic landscape and has led nations to rearm at levels unseen since the height of the Cold War.
With its strategic position on the Black Sea, Bulgaria’s interest mirrors a broader European trend of countries increasingly looking at Israeli defense systems, including drones, advanced manufacturing solutions, and rapid-production defense platforms.
And with time-to-deployment becoming a critical factor for European militaries, Israeli companies, known for their speed, innovation, and operational experience, are increasingly seen as strategic partners.
Speaking to Defense & Tech by The Jerusalem Post, Golan said that with Europe’s appetite for Israeli defense technology growing, he has been to other European nations such as Germany, Poland, and Estonia.
“Three or four years ago, when the war broke out between Ukraine and Russia, no European country invested in defense, but now the whole neighborhood, especially the countries close to Ukraine, started buying equipment and technology,” he said.
But, Golan added, “Europeans don’t know how to work under the pressure of war like Israel does. Due to war, Israel has the experience in manufacturing and production, and then using the products – fast.”
Bulgaria, he said, “does not have any experience in the production of parts, or sourcing raw military-grade materials or working under pressure.”
Golan told the D&T that the company’s end goal is to support Bulgaria by providing the subassembly of the parts “much faster and much cheaper than can be done locally.” The only step for local teams would be the final assembly of the platform.
A SAFE Europe
Last week, the European Commission approved the first wave of defense funding for eight Member States under Security Action for Europe (SAFE). The Commission then submitted a proposal to the Council to approve financial assistance for Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Portugal, and Romania.
Bulgaria is expected to receive more than €3.2 billion. That would pave the way for the first wave of low-cost, long-term loans to be released, allowing those countries to urgently scale up their military readiness and acquire the modern defense equipment they need.
According to Golan, the momentum for Israeli defense tech in Europe will continue to accelerate in the coming year, especially in Bulgaria.
“The strong interest we saw in Bulgaria reflects a clear desire to invest, even in the short term, in advanced defense technologies."
He added, “If 2025 was considered a peak year for the Israeli defense-tech industry, all indications suggest that 2026 is expected to surpass it. The world is seeking proven, fast, and high-quality solutions, and Israel is in an excellent position to provide them.”