Bulgarian Air Force

Embarking on a visit to the United States, Defense Minister Todor Tagarev, accompanied by Defense Chief Admiral Emil Eftimov, directed their attention to the Lockheed Martin plants in Greenville, South Carolina. Their mission: to engage with company executives, observe the aircraft production process, and monitor the advancement of the F-16 Block 70 destined for the Bulgarian Air Force.

January 10 marks the 80th anniversary of one of the most sinister and bloodiest bombings of Sofia during the Second World War. Then the first combined one was performed, i.e. day-night attack on the capital.

In a significant milestone for Bulgaria's military modernization, representatives from the Ministry of Defense and the Bulgarian Air Force recently undertook a comprehensive tour of the Lockheed Martin plant in Greenville, South Carolina. The purpose of the visit was to witness firsthand the advanced stages of assembly for the F-16 Block 70 fighters destined for Bulgaria.

Bulgaria is hosting the joint Bulgarian-American training exercise "Thracian Summer - 2023", which will take place from August 5 to 20 in the areas of the Bezmer Air Base and Cheshnegirovo Airport. This was announced by the press center of the Ministry of Defense (MoD).

90% of the repair of 6 MiG-29 engines of the Bulgarian Air Force will be carried out at the Lutsk Repair Plant "Motor" in Ukraine. This became clear from the decision to select a public order contractor of the Ministry of Defense, made on June 16.

Greek F-16 aircraft will fly this week over Bulgaria as part of the joint flight training "Thracian Star".

During the flight training, air combat with medium-altitude fighters, defensive and offensive air operations, tactical interceptions, visual aerial reconnaissance, low- and ultra-low-altitude route flights, close air support, search and conditional strikes on land (sea) objects.

Bulgaria received today from Poland the first aircraft engine for the MiG-29 fighters. This was announced by the Ministry of Defense on its Twitter account.

Today ???????? received the first aircraft engine for the MiG-29. ????????, thank you for your #allied #solidarity! #StrongerTogether @PremierRP_en @MorawieckiM @Poland_MOD @mblaszczak

The Ministry of Defense has issued a public order for the purchase of six refurbished engines for MiG-29 fighters. For the delivery of the engines, the military department has set aside BGN 26.4 million including VAT, according to a reference in the portal for public procurement.

Bulgaria is looking for an interim solution for fighters while the US F-16 project starts. Negotiations are underway with Sweden and several other countries, President Rumen Radev announced after the meeting of the European Political Community in Prague.

The location of the violating plane has been established, and the case is under investigation. On June 8, around 7.09 p.m., a small plane entered the airspace of Bulgaria. The plane took off from Hungary and flew through Serbia and Romania without an approved flight plan, the Defense Ministry said.