EVE DE SO BUGARITE IMAAAT poslabi se od grcija eve videte sto imat
The Era of Major Achievements (The Sixties and Seventies)
Aviation sign from 1949 to 1992
[edit] A Potent Air Power (The Eighties)
[edit] The downfall (1989-2004)
After the end of the
Cold war Bulgaria's air force is limited to 226 aircraft. A large number of early MiG-21 variants were withdrawn from service and were cut for scrap. And the armament from the trainers for the MiG-21 and MiG-23 was removed. In 1998 four air bases were closed down: Gabrovnitsa, Balchick,
Uzundzhovo and Shtraklevo. Then in 2000 the Stara Zagora (operating Mi-24s) air force base was closed. Then in 2001 three more base were closed down: Dobrich, Ravnets and Cheshnegirovo. In 2003 Dobroslavtsi was closed down and the MiG-23s were withdrawn from service. The motive being that it is more expensive to run than the MiG-21. In February 2004 the Su-22s, which were stationed first in Dobrich then in Bezmer, were withdrawn.
[2]
[edit] Modern times
Bulgarian MiG-29 fighter aircrafts.
A Bulgarian MiG-21 taxis at Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria during a bi-laterial exercise between the U.S. and Bulgarian air forces.
Bulgarian
Mi-17.
Bulgarian AS532AL Cougar.
In the past decade Bulgaria has been trying actively to restructure its army as a whole and a lot of attention has been placed on keeping the aging Russian aircraft operational. Currently the attack and defence branches of the Bulgarian air force are composed mainly of
MIG-21s,
MIG-29s and
Su-25s. There are also several
Su-22s, used primary for surveillance purposes. About 16
MiG-29 fighters are being modernized in order to meet
NATO standarts and until now everything is going according to plan (7 jets will be ready until September 2007). In about 2 years time the government intends to purchase 16 modern jet fighters but due to the lack of funding the procedure of choosing the best alternative could prolong itself. The main competitors are expected to be
Eurofighter,
Dassault Rafale,
JAS 39 Gripen,
F-16 and
F/A-18 Super Hornet. In 2006 the Bulgarian government signed a contract with
Alenia Aeronautica for the delivery of five
C-27J Spartan transport aircraft in order to replace the old soviet made
An-24 and
An-26. The first Spartan is expected to arrive in year 2007 and the remaining four until 2011.
Modern EU-made transport helicopters were purchased in 2005 and until now 7 have arrived. In 2-3 years the Bulgarian Air Force will have 12
Eurocopter Cougar helicopters (8 transport and 4 CSAR), and the Navy - 6
Eurocopter Panther. Until then the Bulgarian Air force would have to rely on the
Mi-24s and
Mi-17s. Recently, the Ministry of Defense terminated the contract with
Elbit Systems for modernizing 12
Mi-24 and 6
Mi-17 helicopters and will be looking for a new executor of the modernization.
Branches of the airforce include: fighter aviation, assault aviation, intelligence aviation and transportation aviation, aid defense troops, radio-technical troops, communications troops, radio-technical support troops, logistics and medical troops.
Bulgaria is going to reinforce the international forces in Afghanistan by sending two Mil Mi-17 transport helicopters to the country. As a result, a special fund was created that will provide money for the renovation of older Soviet-made equipment, which could then be used in Afghanistan.
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[edit] Structure
Active Air Bases
- 12 Training Air Base - Kamenets
- 22nd Attack Air Base - Bezmer Air Base
- 1/22 Attack Squadron - operateing Su-25K, UBK
- 2/22 Attack Squadron - operateing Su-25K, UBK
Reserve (closed) air bases
[edit] Aircraft Inventory
With the exception of the Navy's small helicopter fleet, the Air Forces are responsible for all military aircraft in Bulgaria. The Air Forces' inventory numbers 124 aircraft, including 46 combat jets and 42 helicopters. Aircraft of western origin have only begun to enter the fleet, numbering 13 of the total in service.
Bulgaria signed deal with the Eurocopter worth 358 million euros for purchase of 12 AS 532
Eurocopter Cougar and 6
Eurocopter Panther AS 565. The Panthers will replace
Mil Mi-14 in ASW role and AS 532 are to replace
Mil Mi-17 in transport role.
Bulgaria also agreed purchase of 7
C27J transports with he
Alenia of Italy, deal worth some 210 million
euros.
As a result of new
helicopter and
transport aircraft purchase it was decided to delay purchase of new fighter for time being. It is hoped extra funds can be secured in 2009-2011 for purchase of 12-24 fighters.
Bulgarian AF plans to retire most of its
Soviet era aircraft, keeping o
znaete za lovec modernizirana verzija(elektronski jaka)nekoi mod-ovi bi bile mnogu dobri lovci i interceptori-negativnost im e sto ne mozat da nosat mnogu oruzje no za dogfight se pokazal dobar
SU-25 bimame cetiri ama ako gi modernizira izrael ke bidat najmokni lovci-bombarderi vo regionov izraelskata ima 3 Displeja (HUD)znaci odi recisi nakaj klasa 5 avioniklasa5
