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| Bulgarian Air Force | |
|---|---|
| |
 Emblem of the Bulgarian Air Force | |
| Founded | 20 April 1906 (1906-04-20) |
| Country |  Bulgaria |
| Type | Air force |
| Role | Aerial warfare |
| Size | 8,500 active personnel[1] 70 aircraft[2] |
| Part of | Bulgarian Armed Forces |
| Anniversaries | 16 October |
| Website | af |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Major General Nikolai Rusev |
| Deputy Commander | Brigadier General Petyo Mirchev[3] |
| Chief of Staff | Colonel Dimitar Yankov Georgiev[3] |
| Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force | CMSGT Rumen Petrov[3] |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | Su-25 |
| Fighter | MiG-29,F-16 |
| Helicopter | Mil Mi-17,Eurocopter AS 532 Cougar,Bell 206 |
| Attack helicopter | Mil Mi-24 |
| Reconnaissance | An-30 |
| Trainer | L-39,PC-9,Zlín Z 42 |
| Transport | L-410,C-27J Spartan,Pilatus PC-12,An-26,An-2 |
TheBulgarian Air Force (Bulgarian:Военновъздушни сили,romanized: Voennovazdushni sili) is one of the three branches of theMilitary of Bulgaria, the other two being theBulgarian Navy andBulgarian land forces. Its mission is to guard and protect the sovereignty ofBulgarian airspace, and jointly with the other branches, to protect territorial integrity.[3] The Bulgarian Air Force is one of the oldestair forces inEurope and the world. In recent times it has been actively taking part in numerousNATO missions andexercises inEurope.
The current commanding officer of the Bulgarian Air Force isMajor General Nikolai Rusev.
The Bulgarian Air Force dates back to the end of the 19th century. At the 1892Plovdiv International Fair, two lieutenants of theBulgarian Army flew in the 'La France'balloon owned by the FrenchmanEugène Godard.[4] Later, inspired by the flight, they succeeded in convincing the Bulgarian General Staff that the Army should build a balloon force. Despite numerous refusals from military schools around Europe who would not teach Bulgarian officers to use airships, eventually the Imperial Aviation School inSt. Petersburg enrolled Lieutenant Vasil Zlatarov as a student. On 20 April 1906 "Vazduhoplavatelno Otdelenie" (roughly translated as Aviation Squad, literally Airsailing Section) was created to operate observation balloons for the Army, initially as a part of Railway Battalion.[4] After graduation Lt. Zlatarov was appointed its first commander. After operating small balloons, in 1911 a bigger Godard balloon was bought, and in 1912 the first indigenous balloon, Sofia-1, was constructed in Bulgaria using materials bought fromRussia.[4]
In 1910, a Russian aircraft engineer, Boris Maslennikov, was invited toBulgaria, where he presented his airplane, a modification of the FrenchFarman III. Following his demonstration, assisted by Vasil Zlatarov over the hippodrome inSofia, the Bulgarian Government decided to acquire airplanes for The Aviation Corps. In early 1912 thirteen army officers were sent abroad for training as pilots and orders were placed for five French, British and German airplanes.[4] The officers sent to France completed their training first and returned to Bulgaria in July 1912. The same year Bulgaria received its first airplane – aBleriot XXI, which Simeon Petrov flew on 13 August 1912 to become the first Bulgarian to pilot an airplane over Bulgaria.[4]
Following the outbreak of theFirst Balkan War, Bulgarian pilots, while still abroad, hastily procured aircraft to be shipped home after them and foreign volunteer pilots converged from all over Europe to fly for Bulgaria.[5] After the front lines had stabilized, an Aeroplane Platoon was established at a new airfield close to the fighting.[5]
Intelligence about theTurkish army strength and dispositions in theEdirne was required, and on16 October 1912, two aviators performed a reconnaissance flight over the city in anAlbatros F.2 biplane, also dropping two bombs. This was not only the first military mission performed by a Bulgarian aircraft, but also the first combat use of an aircraft in Europe and one of the first bombing attacks.[4][6]
Later that month the Bulgarian Aviation Corps was expanded to three Aeroplane Platoons. Foreign volunteers began flying operational sorties alongside Bulgarian pilots and carried outreconnaissance, leaflet-dropping and bombing missions. During the war at least three aircraft were shot down. Considerable help was received from the Russians in terms of aircraft, maintenance and training. Due to low aircraft serviceability and frequent accidents, the number of missions flown was relatively low. Despite that, the Bulgarian airmen and their foreign allies were able to gather enough intelligence for the Army General Staff to help successfully capture of the city after a longsiege. Although inflicting little physical damage, the bombs had a devastating effect on the defending Turkish garrison's morale and played a crucial part in the fall of the city, which was until then considered nearly impregnable.[citation needed]During the First Balkan War Bulgarian aviation undertook 70 combat sorties, including 11 bombing raids, during the Second Balkan War it undertook 6 sorties.[4] All in all, during both wars, there were over 230 aircraft sorties, including non-combat flights.[4] In addition to the Albatros F.2, Bulgaria flewBlériot XI andXXI,Bristol Prier, Farman VII andNieuport IV aircraft, as well as examples provided by Sommer and Voisin.[4]
TheTsardom of Bulgaria enteredWorld War I as an ally of theCentral Powers on 4 October 1915. The Aeroplane Section of the Bulgarian Army was reformed with assistance from Germany and Austria.[7] Aircraft were deployed toKumanovo Airfield in support of advancing Bulgarian forces, but bad weather initially prevented any flying. Until then they had completed 11 combat sorties from an airfield inSofia (now the central railway station).[citation needed] As the frontline advanced, the unit re-deployed to airfields near Belitsa andXanthi, in modernGreece. Newly acquired GermanLVG aircraft were hastily pressed into action.[citation needed] Two more airfields were constructed near Udovo and Levunovo. TheAllies began flying reconnaissance and bomber sorties against Bulgarian units on theSouthern Balkan Front. Throughout World War I Bulgarian military aviation experienced a steady increase in both numbers and quality of aircraft; however, they remained inferior to those flown by the Allies, especially the British and French. The First Aeroplane Section (the country's only aircraft unit) was attached to the Second Bulgarian Army. It flew 255 sorties compared to 397 flown by the four squadrons of theEntente it opposed, and operated the following types:[citation needed]
In addition, the Bulgarian Navy used the following airplanes:
A number of Bulgarian pilots flew with German air units at theWestern Front and at Xanthi. They operated several types, including theAlbatros D.III and Halberstadt, which would later mistakenly be listed on the Bulgarian inventory by some sources.[citation needed]
On 30 September 1916 a FrenchFarman F.40 bomber of Escadrille 384 was tasked with attacking the Bulgarian capital,Sofia. Two BulgarianFokker E.IIIs were positioned south of Sofia to intercept the intruder, while a flight of three armed Albatros C.III two-seat trainers covered the center of the city as backup. The bomber successfully dropped its bombs over Sofia while escaping anti-aircraft fire but, while departing, was attacked by the Bulgarian Fokkers, one piloted by Marko Parvanov, which brought the Farman down with a dead engine.[8]
Another Allied aircraft, aBritishArmstrong Whitworth F.K.3, was captured by Bulgarian troops on 12 February 1917 after engine problems forced it to land. Both it and the crew were captured. It would receive Bulgarian insignia and be used to bomb Allied positions at night. Four such sorties were flown before being shot down on 23 May 1918.[9]
ANieuport 24bis and aNieuport 27 were also captured. Lieutenant Vladimir Balan, a Bulgarian fighter pilot who had been flying with a German Jasta on the Western Front, was flying one of the Nieuports when he shot down the squadron leader ofNo. 17 Squadron RAF.[citation needed]
Bulgarian naval aviators also played an important role in the air war. In 1912Petty-Officers Lyapchev and Mikhailov were sent, along with other officers and seamen, to the German naval aviation forming facilities for training. Another group of naval personnel followed in the beginning of the First World War. Training was held at List, Nordenhai and Kiel. In November 1915 aseaplane station under German control was established nearVarna, initially operating four Friedrichshafen FF.33 bombers and a Rumpler 6B1 fighter. Later, at the coast of the Varna Lake, a secondseaplane station was built (this one under Bulgarian control), operating the same inventory. NearSozopol a forward fuel and ammunition replenishment base was established in support of patrol flights over the southern Bulgarian coastline. At the end of 1917 the German station was transferred to the Bulgarian Navy. At the time of the armistice the Bulgarian fleet air arm comprised two seaplane stations, a forward replenishment base, three hangars, three workshops, ammunition warehouses and 10 seaplanes. After the cease-fire the machines were used for mine reconnaissance. At the end of 1919 they are transported by train toBozhurishte Airfield to be scrapped along with the army aviation inventory.[citation needed]
The Bulgarian balloon observers also took part in the war. They were most active on theDobrudzha Front, where aircraft activities were scarce (a German bomber squadron, flying missions againstBucharest andConstanţa: "Gotha" bombers accounted for the most flights). Near the Bulgarian city ofYambol anairship hangar was constructed to house German airships. The airship Schütte-Lanz SL 10 was the first to use it. According to documents of the time it was assigned to the Bulgarian Army, but was actually under German control. It was lost during a flight over theBlack Sea in July 1916. In August 1916 the LZ 101 replaced it. After performing raids on targets in Romania and Greece it returned to Germany in August 1917. In November 1917 the naval airshipL 59 arrived. That airship flew a series of remarkable missions, such as an attempted resupply of the garrison in the colonyGerman East Africa and the bombing ofNaples andPort Said. During a mission against the British naval base inMalta, a lightning strike over theMediterranean Sea set it alight and completely destroyed it. All hands were lost.[10]
On 4 October 1918 the Bulgarian Tsar issued a Royal Act of Demobilization. This resulted in military aviation being converted to its peacetime structure.[citation needed] The Aeroplane group, based in Bozhurishte comprised the following:
The Chaika Naval Seaplane station at Varna was under Naval command.
On 27 November 1919 theTreaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine was signed. In accordance with thetreaty theTsardom of Bulgaria was banned from operatingmilitary aircraft under any form for the next 20 years. All Bulgarian airplanes, balloons, aviation equipment, weaponry and ammunition were to be destroyed under Allied control and all personnel demobilised.[11] Under the terms of the treaty any aircraft procured for civilian purposes had to be bought from the countries on the winning side. The combined engine power for any airplane (including multi-engined ones) was not to exceed 180 hp. In addition, the Bulgarian airspace was to be controlled by the allies and used according to the victorious countries' interests.[citation needed]
In accordance with the treaty during 1920 no less than 70airplanes, 110aircraft engines, 3 air balloons, 76machine guns, a number of photographiccameras and other aviation equipment were destroyed at themilitary airfield of Bozhurishte. Theseaplanes of theBulgarian Navy were delivered by train to the same airfield and scrapped soon after that.
Due to the devotion of the Air Troops personnel and the help of the population of the surrounding villages, several aircraft were hidden, thus evading Allied inspection following destruction. Seven DFW C.V, Albatros C.III and a single Fokker D.VII were among the survivors. In addition, at least ten aviation engines (Benz Bz.IV andMercedes D.III) were also saved.[citation needed]
The Bulgarian government tried to get around the ban for military flight activity by establishing a Gendarmery Aeroplane Section in 1919. Since the Gendarmery was at that time a service under the Ministry of War, the creation of the unit was met by fierce opposition by the Allied commission. This almost resulted in the destruction of the wholeVrazhdebna Airfield, but the disbandment of the unit prevented this from happening.[citation needed]
An Aeroflight Section under the Ministry ofRailways,Postal Service andTelegraph was created in 1920. Bulgarian aviation personnel assembled two airplanes from hidden spares and parts, salvaged from the destroyed military airplanes. The two aircraft, known as "the mixed planes", recorded about 1000 flight hours altogether. The sole remaining Bulgarian Fokker D.VII was disguised as a two-seater, thus being classified as a trainer and returning to active service.[citation needed]
On 5 July 1923 Bulgaria ratified the International Civil Aviation Treaty. From that moment on its air vehicles would carry a registration in the form B-B??? (the latter three signs being a combination of capital letters). In 1923 the first group of cadets, called "student-flyers" entered the Flying school at Vrazhdebna AF.
The following year (1924) the first new airplanes were acquired. Those were machines of thePotez VIII,Caudron C.59,Hanriot HD.14 andBristol Tourer Type 29;Avro 522 seaplanes were also procured. During the same year the Bulgarian airplane construction specialist Atanas Grigorov (who obtained his qualification at the "Albatroswerke – Berlin") assembled aFriedrichshafen FF.33e seaplane from spares, which he called the "Grigorov-1". The aircraft made several test-flights, but was damaged beyond repair by a storm in the hangar where it was stationed. Also in 1924 the Aeroplane Section was expanded to an Aeroflight Directorate still under the Ministry of Railways, Postal Service and Telegraph.[citation needed]
1925 saw thePotez XVII,Bristol Lucifer andMacchi 2000/18 flying boat boosting the country's aircraft inventory. The Bulgarian government invited a group of German aircraft engineers, headed by the constructor Herr Hermann Winter to help establish an aviation factory. Named The State's Aeroconstruction Atelliér orDarzhavna Aeroplanna Rabotilnitsa (DAR) the factory was initially managed by the first Bulgarian pilot to achieve an aerial victory – Mr. Marko Parvanov. The first aircraft types produced at the plant were the U-1 or "Uzounov-1" (an indigenous variant of the wartime German DFW C.V) and theDAR 2 (an indigenous variant of the GermanAlbatros C.III of the same era). Both types became well-known and loved by the personnel of the former Air Troops and gained Bulgarian combat service experience.[citation needed] Development of a new type – theDAR 1 – was also started.
During the course of 1926 the Airplane School was moved to the geographical center of the country. The town ofKazanlak was well suited, for it was far away from the Allied Control Commission. TheCzechoslovak companyAero Vodochody also built an aircraft factory near that city, but its models were not up to the requirements of the Bulgarian authorities. After an unsuccessful switch to automotive production, the plant was finally sold to the ItalianCaproni company. The factory became popular as "Balgarski Kaproni" or "Bulgarian Caproni". The first examples of the DAR 1 biplane were produced and entered service with the Aeroflight Directorate during 1926.[citation needed]
The 1927 structure of the Directorate was the following:
In 1928 the Ministry of War started the ambitious 10-year program for development of the military aviation (still banned by the peace treaty). According to the plan the following structure had to be achieved:
In 1931 Bulgaria signed the Warsaw Treaty, concerning international civil air activities and the country was assigned the new civil registration – LZ-??? (the latter three signs being a combination of capital letters). In 1933 the Bulgarian Council of Ministers approved the following wartime order of battle of the aviation:
In 1934 the Aviation Regiment was renamed His Majesty's Air Troops, comprising a headquarters, with two army orlyaks (based atBozhurishte andPlovdiv airfields), a training orlyak (inPlovdiv), a maritimeyato (at NAS Chaika, Varna) and additional operational support units. Colonel Ivan Mikhailov was appointed the first chief of the air force with Lieutenant-Colonel Georgi Vasilev appointed as his Deputy.[10]
In late 1930s Bulgaria started acquiring Polish and German aircraft.
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In 1936 Bulgaria ordered 14PZL P.24B fighters and 12PZL.43 light bombers from Poland, which due to the Spanish Civil War could not be delivered by sea and were instead shipped delayed by rail. The first aircraft entered service in the summer of 1937. The reestablished air force was satisfied with the performance of new planes and in 1938, a second order was placed for 42 PZL.43A light bombers and 12 PZL P.24F fighters, which differed from the earlier versions in having more powerful engines, stronger armament and other improvements.[12]
Before the arrival of Polish aircraft, the first combat aircraft that entered Bulgarian service in 1937 were 12Arado Ar 65 fighters, 12Heinkel He 51 fighters, 12Dornier Do 11 bombers and 12Heinkel He 45B reconnaissance aircraft. These machines were donated personally toTsar Boris III byHermann Göring.[13]
In 1937, during the traditional military parade ofSt. George's Day (National Day of Bravery and of the patron-saint of the Bulgarian Armed Forces), military aircraft officially debuted as a part of the armed forces after a nearly two-decade hiatus. A month later Boris III himself presented the Bulgarian air regiments with their new combat flags at an official ceremony at Vrazhdebna Airfield.[citation needed]
When theThird ReichoccupiedCzechoslovakia in 1938, the Czechoslovak air force was broken up. Bulgaria used the opportunity to acquire large numbers of ex-Czechoslovak aircraft from the Germans at a bargain price. Bulgaria purchased 78Avia B-534 biplane fighters, 32 Avia B-71 twin-engine bombers (a license version of theSoviet SB bomber), 12Bloch MB.200 twin-engine bombers, 62Letov Š-328 reconnaissance aircraft and 28Avia Bs.122 trainers.[14] Deliveries of the second batch of Polish orders started in early 1939, with 33 PZL.43A light bombers and 8 PZL P.24F fighters delivered before theGerman-Soviet Invasion of Poland stopped deliveries (although two more PZL.43A were delivered by the Germans later).[15] In less than 3 years the Air Force inventory had grown up to 478 aircraft of which 135 were of Bulgarian construction.
In the years 1938-1939, according to the design and with the support of the PolishPZL, a modernDSF factory was built inLovech, where new PZL P.24J fighters were to be built under license. However, these plans were thwarted by the outbreak of World War II and the factory produced mainly training planes, including the most-produced Bulgarian aircraft, the Laz-7.
At the beginning ofWorld War II, the combat air fleet comprised 374 machines in various roles. In addition orders were placed for 10Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 fighters, 11Dornier Do 17M/P bombers, 6Messerschmitt Bf 108 light liaison and utility aircraft, 24Arado Ar 96B-2[16] and 14Bücker-Bestmann Bü 131 trainers.
The Air Force order of battle comprised the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Army Aviation Orlyaks (Army Air Groups or air regiments), each attached to the correspondingly-numbered field army. Each orlyak had a fighter, a line bomber and two reconnaissanceyatos (squadrons). There was also an Independent Aviation corps, which combined the 5th Bomber and 6th Fighter Regiments. The training units consisted of the "Junker" School Orlyak atVrazhdebna airfield, the 2nd Training Orlyak at Telish airfield (called the Blind Flying Training School) and the 3rd Training Orlyak atStara Zagora airfield. In 1940, the Bulgarian aviation industry provided the air force with 42DAR 9 Siniger and 45Kaproni-Bulgarski KB-5 Chuchuliga aircraft, along with preparing for serial production of theKB-6 – Bulgaria's first twin-engined aircraft. At year's end, the Bulgarians had 595 aircraft (of which 258 were combat aircraft) and 10,287 personnel.[citation needed]
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On 1 March 1941, theTsardom of Bulgaria signed theTripartite Pact, becoming a formal ally of Germany.[16] Under the treaty, Bulgaria allowed the use of its territory as a staging point for the invasion of Yugoslavia and Greece and some minor logistical support.[citation needed]
Despite the impressive looking inventory, Bulgaria's fighter force in January 1941 consisted of only 91 machines, with just 18 of them modern Bf 109E monoplanes. A further 11 were PZL P.24B fighters, and the remainder were obsolete Avia B-534 biplanes.[13] The ground-based air defenses were made up of only 8 88 mm (3.5 in) and 6 20 mm (0.79 in) AA guns. To help its new ally the 12th Army of the Wehrmacht offered support with its aircraft and air defence assets and provided 8 Freya-type radars dispersed throughout the country. A dispersed observation and reporting system was gradually developed.[citation needed]
The first air strike against Bulgarian targets was carried out by 4Yugoslav Dornier Do 17 Kb-1 on 6 April 1941 on the city ofKyustendil and its railway station killing 47 and injuring 95, mostly civilians.[citation needed] The air strikes intensified in the following days; BritishRoyal Air Force units based inGreece participated in theattacks as well. At the end of April, the 2nd and 5thBulgarianarmies occupiedGreek andYugoslav territories according to an agreement with theThird Reich.[citation needed] As a part of the joint armed forces' effort on 26 June 1941 6 Avia B.71 and 9 Dornier Do 17M bombers were transferred to the Badem Chiflik airfield nearKavala (in Greece). They were tasked withanti-submarine patrols and air support for Italian shipping over the adjacent area of theAegean Sea.[citation needed] In addition 9 Letov Š.328s based in Badem Chiflik provided the ground troops with air reconnaissance. At the Black Sea shores the "Galata" Fighter Orlyak was established atNAS Chaika,Varna, with the 10 Bf 109E-4s and 6 Avia B-534s. The S.328s were also used for anti-submarine patrols over theBlack Sea, flying out of theSarafovo andBalchik airfields. At the end of 1941 the inventory of His Majesty's Air Troops consisted of 609 aircraft of 40 different types.[citation needed]
On 22 June 1941,Germany invaded the Soviet Union, but Bulgaria refused to take part, although it did declare war with Great Britain and the United States of America in December 1941. Bulgaria's inaction against the Soviet Union meant that supplies of German aircraft slowed to a trickle, with only four aircraft delivered from January to September 1942.[17]
The war declared by the Tsardom of Bulgaria against the US and Great Britain was a tragedy for the little country. The city of Sofia and Bulgarian towns and villages were hit by air strikes in late 1943 and in 1944. In all, 187 inhabited places were attacked, 45,000 destructive and incendiary bombs were dropped. There were about 2,000 casualties, and about 4700 wounded, 12,000 damaged or ruined buildings and the total losses were estimated at nearly 24 billion dollars. For the citizens of Sofia, the "Black" days were 14 and 24 November, 10 and 20 December 1943, and 10 January and 16, 24, 30 March and 17 April 1944 when large formations ofB-17 and B-24 bombers ruined parts of the capital city including the central area. The Bulgarians also see successes. On 1 August 1943, an armada of 177 AmericanConsolidated B-24 Liberator bombers flew over several Balkan countries their way to bomb "the taproot of German might", the giant oil refineries atPloiești, Romania.[18] TermedOperation Tidal Wave, the aircraft flew over Bulgarian territory and Bulgarian fighter pilots Sub-lieutenant Peter Bochev (5 victories), Captain Tschudomir Toplodolski (4 victories), Lieutenant Stoyan Stoyanov (5 victories) and Sublieutenant Hristo Krastev (1 victory) gained their first victories on the bombers.[19]
In total, about 23,000 enemy sorties were registered over Bulgaria in the years 1943–1944. Bulgarian pilots fought an enemy outnumbering them by 10 to 50 times. Some of the best pilots were Lieutenant Stoyanov, Captain Toplodolski, and Sub-Lieutenants Bochev, Cvetkov, and Damev.[13] 19 Bulgarian pilots died in this war against the Allies. The Allies lost 60 planes, shot down by Bulgarian fighters and about 430 airmen, 325 of which were taken as POWs.[20]
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The Bulgarian Air Force, along with other branches of the SovietizedBulgarian People's Army, adopted the doctrine of theSoviet deep battle during theCold War. The force expanded rapidly with deliveries of different types of combat aircraft. The first shipments of Soviet equipment arrived immediately after the end of World War II, mostly consisting of propeller-driven aircraft, such as theIlyushin Il-2 (120 Il-2 and 10 Il-2U), theIlyushin Il-10 and theTupolev Tu-2. By 1954, these types were being withdrawn from service, as theKorean War marked the beginning of the jet fighter era and in 1955 a new wave of deliveries began, starting with theMikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15.[21] Later additions includedMikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 andMiG-19 fighters andIlyushin Il-28 bombers, as well as theMil Mi-1, the first helicopter. These aircraft were withdrawn in the 1970s, when the last wave of modernization began.[citation needed]
In June 1979, theMil Mi-24 Hind entered service through a significant re-equipment program and boosted the capabilities of the BAF. TheSukhoi Su-22 andSu-25 entered service in 1988 in the strike andreconnaissance role. 40 Su-25K/KUBs and 21 Su-22M4/UM-3s were delivered.
In 1993, the air regiments in Bezmer and Sadovo were experimentally transformed into "air bases" with the merger of the air regiments with the aviation-technical and airfield service battalions, that were independent from them. Around 1995 – 1996 all the air regiments were transformed into air bases (brigade equivalents) and two main commands were formed: Air Defence Command (Командване за противовъздушна отбрана), merging the two air defence divisions and the Tactical Aviation Command (Командване Тактическа Авиация), by reorganisation of the10th Composite Aviation Corps,[22] called and including into it the newly transformed into air bases training regiments in Shtraklevo and Kamenets. The regiment in Dolna Mitropoliya was disbanded.
With the end of the Cold War, Bulgaria's air force was reduced to 226 aircraft. All MiG-25 fighters were grounded in 1991[23] and a large number of early MiG-21 variants were withdrawn from service and scrapped, with armament from the trainers for the MiG-21 and MiG-23 also being removed. In 1998, four air bases were closed down:Gabrovnitsa Air Base,Balchik Air Base,Uzundzhovo Air Base andShtraklevo Air Base. In 2000, further air bases were closed, with theStara Zagora (which operated Mi-24s) Air Base being suspended. Then, in 2001 three more bases were closed down:Dobrich Air Base,Ravnets Air Base andCheshnegirovo Air Base. In 2003,Dobroslavtsi Air Base was also closed down and the MiG-23s were withdrawn from service as they were more expensive to run than the MiG-21s. In February 2004 the Su-22s, which were stationed first in Dobrich then in Bezmer, were withdrawn.[24]
Since the early 2000s, Bulgaria has been actively trying to restructure its armed forces as a whole and a lot of attention has been placed on keeping the aging Soviet-era aircraft operational. In 2015, the last of theMiG-21s were put out of service, and the attack & defence branches of the Bulgarian Air Force relied solely onMiG-29s.[25] About 16 MiG-29 fighters were modernised in order to meetNATO standards. In January 2011, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence issued a Request for Information (RFI) regarding the acquisition of eight multi-role fighters.[26] The main competitors were expected to be theEurofighter Typhoon,Dassault Rafale,Saab JAS 39 Gripen,Mikoyan MiG-29,MiG-35,CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder,Lockheed Martin F-16, andMcDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet. On 9 March 2011, the Swedish Government submitted its response to the RFI containing eight newGripen C/D fighters. The Ministry of Defence extended the time limit for submittal of responses by two months, due to the lack of responses from the other competitors.[citation needed]
Modern European transporthelicopters were ordered and purchased in 2005, and, consequently, 12Eurocopter Cougar helicopters (8 to provide transport & 4CSAR) joined the fleet.[27] For the Navy threeEurocopter Panther were ordered and have been delivered.[28]
In 2006, the Bulgarian government signed a contract withAlenia Aeronautica for the delivery of fiveC-27J Spartantransport aircraft in order to replace the older SovietAn-24 &An-26. The first Spartan arrived in 2007. Subsequently, the contract changed to the delivery of only three aircraft, and the final one arrived on 31 March 2011.[29]
On 11 November 2016, the Bulgarian government signed a 21.8-million-euro contract for 10 MiG-29 engines (four new & six repaired), with the first pair scheduled to arrive by April 2017. The deal would eventually bring the number of active service MiG-29 aircraft from 9 to 14, as Bulgaria also announced it was looking to overhaul the fleet and buy eight new or second-hand fighter jets during the coming year.[30]
In 2016, Bulgaria's government announced theSaab JAS 39 Gripen as the preferred candidate in the country's new combat aircraft competition. In 2016, Sofia issued a request for proposals for the purchase of eight multirole fighters to be delivered by 2020.[31][32] However, a new government postponed plans of acquiring new aircraft in May 2017.[33]
In October 2018, potential suppliers responded to a renewed tender for aircraft, consisting of newF-16C/D Block 70 aircraft from Lockheed Martin, newF/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft from Boeing, usedEurofighter Typhoon aircraft from Italy, and usedSaab JAS 39 Gripen C/D from Sweden. France, Germany, Israel, and Portugal did not respond to requests for used Eurofighter Typhoons and F-16 variants.[34][35]
On 16 January 2019, the Bulgarian parliament approved the government's proposal to start negotiations with the US to purchase F-16C/D Block 70 aircraft. On 3 June 2019, the U.S. State Department approved the possible sale of eight F-16 aircraft to Bulgaria. The cost of the contract was estimated at $1.67 billion. The deal was vetoed by the Bulgarian President,Rumen Radev on 23 July 2019, citing the need to find a broader consensus for the deal, sending the deal back to parliament, but, on 26 July, the deal was again approved by parliament, overruling the veto, and, this time, was approved by Radev.[36] In April 2020, Lockheed Martin was officially ordered by the U.S. government to produce F-16s for Bulgaria, which are estimated to be completed in 2027.[37] In September 2022, Bulgaria’s caretaker government announced that they will purchase another eight fighter jets. Thus, Bulgaria will gradually receive the 16 F-16s.[38] In November 2022, Bulgaria reportedly finalized an agreement to procure eight F-16s. This deal is aimed at replacing the country's aging MiG-29s, which are scheduled for retirement in the coming year.[39]
Branches of the air force include:
MiG-29A/UB
Su-25K/UBK
Helicopters
other flying units
Command and Control centres
Air defence missile units
other sites
Except for theNavy's small helicopter fleet, the Air Force is responsible for all military aircraft in Bulgaria.The BAF plans to retire most of its Soviet-era aircraft, keeping only theMikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 "Fulcrum" fleet - which was modernized only recently, as well as itsMil Mi-24 gunships &Sukhoi Su-25s. TheMiG-21s in service were retired on 18 December 2015. On 6 October 2020, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence signed an order with Ukrainian state company "Ukrinmash" for the repair and refurbishment of oneAntonov An-30, designed for aerial cartography, forлв. 6,200,000.[43] The Ministry of Defence plans to retire the MiG-29 sometime around 2028, after the F-16s reach full operational capability.[44]
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Note: ThreeC-17 Globemaster IIIs are available through theHeavy Airlift Wing based inHungary.[56]
FiveNorthrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawks are available through theAlliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) program based in Italy.[57]
| Name | Origin | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air defence systems | |||
| S-300[58] | Soviet Union | Long-range surface-to-air missile | S-300PMU - 8 batteries[58] |
| S-200[58] | Soviet Union | Long-range surface-to-air missile | S-200 Angara - 12 batteries[58] |
| S-75 Dvina[58] | Soviet Union | Medium-range surface-to-air missile | S-75M3 Volhov |
| S-125[58] | Soviet Union | Short-range surface-to-air missile | S-125M |
| 2K12 Kub[58] | Soviet Union | Short-range surface-to-air missile | 2k12M Kub-M |
| Radars | |||
| P-14 | Soviet Union | 2DVHF Radar | 2-dimensional air search radar.[59] |
| P-18 | Soviet Union | 2D VHF Radar | 2-dimensional air search radar.[59] |
| P-35/37MV1 Khristo | Soviet Union | 2DE band/F band | P-37MV1 Bar Lock Upgrade.[60] |
| ST-68U | Soviet Union | 3D radar | Used on the S-300 system.[61] |
| Air-launched missiles | |||
| AIM-120 AMRAAM | United States | Medium-range air-to-air missile | 35 AIM-120C-7/C-8 On Order.[62][63][64] |
| R-27[58] | Soviet Union | Medium-range air-to-air missile | R-27R1(AA-10 Alamo-A) R-27T1(AA-10 Alamo-B) |
| R-73[58] | Soviet Union | Short-range air-to-air missile | R-73E |
| R-3[58] | Soviet Union | Short-range air-to-air missile | AA-2A Atoll-A AA-2A Atoll-D |
| AIM-9 Sidewinder | United States | Short-range air-to-air missile | 44 AIM-9X Block II On Order.[65][63][64] |
| Kh-29[58] | Soviet Union | Air-to-surface missile | Kh-29L |
| Kh-25[58] | Soviet Union | Air-to-surface missile | Kh-25L |
| Bombs/Guidance kit | |||
| GBU-39 | United States | Glide bomb | GBU-39/B |
| JDAM | United States | Guidance kit | In use withGBU-38 andGBU-54 |
| GBU-49 | United States | Guidance kit | 27 GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II kits on order[63][64] |
The rank insignia ofcommissioned officers.
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulgarian Air Force[75] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
| Генерал General | Генерал-лейтенант General-leytenant | Генерал-майор General-mayor | Бригаден генерал Brigaden general | Полковник Polkovnik | Подполковник Podpolkovnik | Майор Mayor | Капитан Kapitan | Старши лейтенант Starshi leytenant | Лейтенант Leytenant | |||||||||||||||
The rank insignia ofnon-commissioned officers andenlisted personnel.
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulgarian Air Force[75] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Офицерски кандидат Ofitserski kandidat | Старшина Starshyna | Старши сержант Starshi serzhant | Сержант Serzhant | Младши сержант Mladshi serzhant | Ефрейтор Efreytor | Редник Rednik | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
