Bulgarian air force

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.

At the regular meeting of the Council of Ministers will be discussed the way of security of the airspace of Bulgaria, reported BGNES.

The strengthening of the security of the airspace of the Republic of Bulgaria will be discussed by jointly accomplishing tasks of the Bulgarian Air Force with the forces of the Italian Republic and determining the limitations of their joint actions.

The majority of Bulgaria's MPs on Thursday approved a report that recommends the revision of the procurement procedure for new fighter jets, alleging that there have been violations in the past.

MPs from the ruling centre-right party GERB of Prime Minister Boyko Borissov also indirectly accused President Rumen Radev of corruption.

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.

"The project for the purchase of a new fighter aircraft for the needs of the Bulgarian Air Force should by no means be dropped," Bulgaria's President Roumen Radev said on 21st of August during a visit in Burgas, reported the Bulgarian National Television. 

According to the head of State, MIG-29, no matter how good maneuverability it has, does not provide modern combat capabilities.

Talking to reporters in parliament, Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov stated that negotiations would be held with three countries for the purchase of combat aircraft for the Bulgarian air force, reported BNR.

New ones must be bought, he added, not second hand machines.

Boyko Borisov pointed out that F-16, Eurofighter, Gripen and MiG all have factories  and manufacture new aircraft.

The Bulgarian government's Airbus A319 travelled to Colombo, Sri Lanka carrying 32 migrants who did not have right of residence in any country of the European Union. From the European agency Frontex for border and coast security explained that for the operation which was coordinated by Bulgaria were paid almost 75 thousand euros.  

The majority in Bulgaria's Parliament decided on 28th of June to set up an Ad-Hoc Committee to examine the procedure for selecting the new fighter jet aircraft for the Bulgarian Air Force.

In an interview with Sunday's Kathimerini, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev expressed his support for the nations of the western Balkans joining the European Union, noting that this would boost regional security, as long as they fulfil the conditions for membership.