Bulgarian Air Force

On 30 July, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence published a tender for the general overhaul of two Mi-17 transport and four Mi-24V combat helicopters of the Bulgarian Air Force (BuAF). The deadline for submission of bids is 3 September, with a framework agreement covering a period of 48 months to be signed with the successful bidder.

Israel will be invited to offer F-16C/D fighters for the Bulgarian tender for a new fighter to replace the Bulgarian Air Force's MiG-29s, Bulgarian Defence Minister Krasimir Karakachanov said on 19 March.

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.

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.

Bulgarian and Italian planes started training together.

The exercise will last about a week. It includes four Bulgarian "MiG-29" and four Italian "Eurofighter typhoons", which are here under the reinforced air defence mission - the so-called air police.

Also included are additional air defence capabilities of the country as well as land troops.

Joint Bulgarian-Israeli Flight Training Collector's Item 17 will be held from 7 to 13 September in the airspace of the Republic of Bulgaria, reported BGNES.

Three Italian fighters "Eurofighter typhoon" will guard the Bulgarian airspace along with the Bulgarian MiG-29 over the next three months. All costs are at the expense of the Italian State.

The Bulgarian government gave the green light for four Italian Eurofighter Typhoons to temporarily guard the country's airspace in order to strengthen the eastern flank of NATO, officials said Wednesday, cited by Xinhua.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Defense has announced that at Graf Ignatievo Air Base in Southern Bulgaria, US F-15C fighter jets are to land for participation in a joint Bulgarian-American flying training ''Thracian Eagle - 2017'', BNR reported.