site.btaBulgaria to Continue Using MiG-29 Fighters Until F-16 Fleet Becomes Operational

Bulgaria will continue using its MiG-29 fighter jets to protect its airspace and fulfil its allied commitments, including the permanent Air Policing mission, until the new F-16 Block 70 aircraft are fully operational, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said in response to a question from Democratic Bulgaria MP Ivaylo Mirchev. The response was published on the parliament's website.

Mirchev asked the minister whether Bulgaria has submitted an inquiry to Poland regarding the possible acquisition of MiG-29 fighter jets.

Earlier this week, the Defence Ministry told BTA that it had sent inquiries to several countries regarding available aircraft and spare parts. Minister Stoyanov said on Wednesday that the government was seeking MiG-29 aircraft only as a source of spare parts. Letters have also been sent to the Pentagon and Sweden regarding used F-16 and Gripen aircraft, the minister said, although he added that he did not expect Bulgaria to receive such planes.

"The current shortage of spare components, units and assemblies for the MiG-29 aircraft has not affected any of the main tasks of the Bulgarian Air Force," the minister said.

Under these circumstances, it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence to explore options for maintaining the aircraft's airworthiness and to conclude contracts for the acquisition of aviation equipment, spare parts and components for Bulgaria's MiG-29 fleet, which remains the country's only means of carrying out airspace protection missions, Stoyanov said.

The minister added that the information requested from Poland was in no way binding and did not affect the process of re-equipping the Bulgarian Air Force, which is already at an advanced stage.

Bulgaria received its first eight F-16 fighter jets from the United States last year. However, Stoyanov said that delivery of the second batch of eight aircraft will be delayed, which is why the service life of the MiG-29 fleet is being extended.

Speaking before the parliamentary Defence Committee, the minister said that claims that Bulgaria could currently conduct combat air patrols with F-16 aircraft were "to put it mildly, strange".

The Defence Ministry has also launched a public procurement procedure for the repair of up to ten engines for MiG-29 fighter jets.