site.btaUPDATED Allied, Partner Helicopters to Fly over Bulgaria, June 1-3

Allied and partner countries' helicopters are redeploying to the 24th Air Base in Krumovo (South Central Bulgaria) for Exercise Thracian Blade 2026 between June 1 and 3, the Ministry of Defence said on Monday.

Over three weeks, until June 19, 2026, Bulgarian and foreign crews will carry out training missions on the territory and in the airspace of Bulgaria under the command of the Bulgarian Air Force. Some of the flights will be at low and extremely low altitudes and will involve the use of training tactical and live-fire ranges in the country.

The exercise is being organized in strict compliance with the designated routes, minimum altitudes and safety measures, in line with the documents and manuals regulating flights by military aircraft in the territory of Bulgaria, the Ministry added.

In an apparently related development, the Ministry announced later on Monday that US Army UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache helicopters, relocating from Greece and Romania, will fly in Bulgaria's airspace on June 2 and 3. During the flights, the aircaft will land in the area of the Novo Selo Range Army Base near Sliven (Southeastern Bulgaria). The flights are related to a rotation of US Armed Forces combat power for missions in Operation Atlantic Resolve. 

Performing the flights, crews will adhere to standard noise mitigation procedures and will use pre-assigned and approved routes, complying with all flight safety measures, the press release said.

On Sunday, the Bulgarian Defence Ministry said that US Armed Forces personnel and military equipment will travel along Bulgaria's national road network on June 1 and 2. The movement of equipment and personnel from Greece to Romania is part of regional logistical support for the rotation of military elements involved in the US Armed Forces' Operation Atlantic Resolve.