Bulgarian Air Force

The Atlantic Council of Bulgaria has issued an opinion stating our country should purchase the U.S. F-16 as a new type of fighter for the Bulgarian Air Force, and adding that the government should adhere to the common practice in NATO member states - to acquire the average number of 16 aircraft per squadron, not as planned in two times of 8, learned BulgarianMilitary.com.

SOFIA, Bulgaria (BulgarianMilitary.com), 19 September 2018, Editor: Stanislava Georgieva, 

Bulgaria's Ministry of Defense (MoD) has announced a tender for Russian and Belarusian state-owned companies to overhaul its Su-25 close air support aircraft, marking the latest in a decade's worth of false starts and reversals plaguing Bulgaria's efforts to replace aging Communist-era equipment.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 21 August published a tender inviting Russian and Belarusian state-owned companies to negotiate a framework agreement valid for 48 months to overhaul the Bulgarian Air Force's (BuAF's) Su-25 close air support aircraft in 2019-22.

Israel is in the running to replace Bulgaria's aging MiG-29s after Sofia gave the green light to replace its Soviet-designed jets.

Bulgaria's parliament approved the plan to buy the jets in June in order to improve its compliance with NATO standards - which it joined in 2004 - in a 3.5 billion leva (NIS 7.4 billion) military modernization project.

On 30 July, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence published a tender for the general overhaul of two Mi-17 transport and four Mi-24V combat helicopters of the Bulgarian Air Force (BuAF). The deadline for submission of bids is 3 September, with a framework agreement covering a period of 48 months to be signed with the successful bidder.

Israel will be invited to offer F-16C/D fighters for the Bulgarian tender for a new fighter to replace the Bulgarian Air Force's MiG-29s, Bulgarian Defence Minister Krasimir Karakachanov said on 19 March.

The Bulgarian Air Force will look into buying Boeing F-18 Super Hornets following a review of competitors Saab, Lockheed Martin, and the consortium of European companies that make the Eurofighter Typhoon, reported Sputniknews.com

Bulgaria's deputy defense minister confirmed on Tuesday that some military pilots will not take part in planned training this week.

"Some of the pilots from Graf Ignatievo air base will not perform training flights because of insecurity," said Deputy Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov.

Israeli and Bulgarian air forces are holding a joint exercise over Bulgaria, the Xinhua news agency reported.  

Bulgaria will commit MiG-29 fighter aircraft and land-based air defense systems - likely the S-300 system that Iran has just received from Russia, and that Russia has deployed in Syria. 42 Israeli aircraft, including F-15 and F-16 fighters, will also take part.