Bulgarian Air Force

Commander of the Bulgarian Air Force, Major General Rumen Radev, has reportedly submitted his resignation.

This was reported by daily Sega on Thursday, based on information of the defence ministry, which has been confirmed unofficially.

A statement of the defence ministry on the matter is expected.

The Defense Ministry's proposal to allow other NATO members to conduct air-policing missions jointly with the Bulgarian Air Force is not and act of giving up aviation, the head of Parliament's Defense Committee has said.

Bulgaria will amend its legislation to allow military aircraft of other NATO member states to conduct policing of the country's air space jointly with the Bulgarian Air Force, the Defence Ministry has announced.

Poland has no license or documentation whatsoever to repair MiG aircraft, the head of the original equipment manufacturer has reportedly warned.

The repair of the MiG-29 fighter jets by Poland will be twice cheaper than the cost, which would have been incurred if the maintenance was carried out by the the Russian MiG company.

Nenchev revealed that a price, which is 20-30% lower than the one requested by the Russian company, was negotiated with Poland.

Six Bulgarian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jets will have their engines overhauled in Poland under an intergovernmental letter of intent signed in Sofia on Friday.

A tactical training involving military firing at the training area of the Bulgarian Air Force near the Black Sea town of Shabla began on Monday.

More than 750 servicemen from the Bulgarian Air Force, 460 troops from the Bulgarian Land Forces, 200 servicemen from the Bulgarian Navy, crews from the Military Police Service and Border Police will participate in the four-day drills.

Bulgaria's government approved on Wednesday a draft agreement on defence cooperation with Poland, moving a step closer to a deal for the repair of Bulgarian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jets by Polish military aircraft works.

A Bulgarian Air Force Pilatus PC-12 transport aircraft has landed on its belly at Graf Ignatievo airfield after its landing gear failed, the Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.

The crew has suffered no injuries, the ministry said in a statement.

The Bulgarian cabinet approved on Wednesday the country's participation in negotiations for the purchase of new fighter jets.

This was announced by Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev after the government granted him mandate to head negotiations with Belgium, the Netherlands and Greece.