Bulgarian Air Force
What's next for Bulgaria's fighter fleet after the MiG-29 is retired?
The Bulgarian Air Force is poised to transform its fighter fleet as the days of its ageing MiG-29s are numbered, while the newly ordered F-16 Block 70s are due to be taken on strength not before 2025
Aero Vodochody contracted to overhaul and modernize Bulgaria’s fleet of L-39ZA Albatros
Aero Vodochody has been awarded a four-year contract to upgrade and overhaul the L-39ZA Albatros fleet of the Bulgarian Air Force
Bulgaria approves additional F-16 Block 70/72 purchase
The Bulgarian government has approved funding for the purchase of eight additional Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 70/72 Fighting Falcons – a sale which was initially cleared by the US State Department in April 2022
US refuses to be drawn on Ukraine link to Bulgarian F-16 sale
The US Department of Defense has declined to be drawn on the prospect of Bulgaria looking to shift its existing Soviet-era MiG-29 multi-role fighters to Ukraine, following Washington’s approval of the possible sale of F-16 aircraft to Sofia
Inside Bulgaria's growingly obsolescent Air Defence force
We look at the slow and often painful transformation of the Bulgarian Air Force’s air defence assets, while revealing humble plans to field Western-made hardware in the foreseeable future
European Mi-24/35 Survey: Bulgaria's Marginal Capability
Having once boasted a 44-strong Hind fleet, the Bulgarian Air Force's attack helicopter capability was cut in half in 1999 and later reduced to just six Mi-24Vs, with just two examples being airworthy at any one time. We provide expert analysis on Bulgaria's remaining Hind fleet
An in-depth look at Bulgaria's modernised Frogfoot fleet
We look at the recently refurbished and upgraded Su-25 attack aircraft that are earmarked to continue in Bulgarian service through to at least 2028
Bulgarian MiG-29 crashes into the Black Sea
A Bulgarian Air Force-operated Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 'Fulcrum' crashed into the Black Sea off the nation’s Shabla peninsula in the early hours of June 9
Bulgaria orders Saab’s deployable maintenance facility
Saab has signed a contract to deliver its Deployable Maintenance Facility for use by the Bulgarian Air Force, which will be used at numerous air bases through Bulgaria
Thracian Viper: Bulgaria prepares for the Bear
For six weeks, Bulgaria’s skies witnessed intense NATO activity last autumn, beginning with ‘Thracian Viper 20’ and culminating with American F-16s flying enhanced Air Policing missions