Sofia, Aug 25 (IANS): The US Army has sent to Bulgaria armoured vehicles and other equipment to participate in a joint multinational drill to be held in September and October, officials said here on Tuesday.

The US armament included armoured personnel carriers Stryker, artillery systems, four M1 tanks and supporting equipment, Bulgarian Ministry of Defence said in a statement, Xinhua reported.

Units of the Bulgarian army, 160 troops from the US Marine Corps, and 35 servicemen from Romania would participate in the exercise "Black Sea Rotational Force - PLATINUM LION 16-1" that would be held in two stages in September and October at Novo Selo Training Area, one of the four joint US-Bulgarian military bases in the Balkan country, the statement said.

"The aim of the drill is to improve the capacity for joint participation in counterterrorism operations and peacekeeping, as well as increase the level of interoperability between units of the US Marine Corps and the formations of the Bulgarian Armed Forces," the statement said.

Bulgaria, a NATO member since 2004, signed a defence cooperation agreement with the US in 2006. According to the agreement, the US may deploy defence equipment to Bulgaria with advance notification about the types, quantities and delivery schedules. Such defence equipment, supplies and materiel are for the exclusive use of the US forces, the agreement said.