site.bta2026 Operating Costs for MiG-29 and Su-25 Aircraft Projected at BGN 114 Mln, Says Defence Minister

The planned operating costs for Bulgaria’s MiG-29 and Su-25 aircraft in 2026 amount to BGN 114 million, Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said in a written reply to a question from MP Atanas Slavov of Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) concerning the maintenance, operation, and decommissioning of the aircraft. The reply was published on the website of the National Assembly.

The forecast includes BGN 86,457,750 for the MiG-29s and BGN 27,605,345 for the Su-25s. The estimates are based on annual planning and operational statistics for both types, Zapryanov said.

For maintaining the operational capabilities of the Bulgarian Air Force with MiG-29 and Su-25, the annual operating costs for 2024 and until October 31, 2025, amount to slightly over BGN 104 million. This figure includes personnel costs (salaries for all staff at the respective bases), infrastructure (repairs and maintenance not related to the F-16 programme), spare parts, and aviation fuel. Training costs are not included, as no pilot training for MiG-29 or Su-25 has been conducted over the past five years, the Minister noted.

Zapryanov warned that withdrawing the MiG-29 and Su-25 from service before the F-16 fighters reach initial operational capability would deprive the Bulgarian Air Force of key capabilities and make it impossible to fulfil constitutional and allied commitments for an extended period. Therefore, the decommissioning of the MiG-29 and Su-25 will be closely tied to achieving equivalent capabilities with the F-16s, he said.

Given the unpredictability of these processes, no consultations have been held with Ukraine regarding the future use of the MiG-29 and Su-25 aircraft, Zapryanov added.

Bulgaria has already received six F-16 fighter jets from the United States under a 2019 contract, with two more expected by the end of this year. Once the second contract is fulfilled, the Air Force will have a full squadron of 16 aircraft. The F-16 fighters will assume combat duty once pilot training is finished and all terms of the 2019 contract have been met, Air Force Commander Major General Nikolay Rusev said in an interview marking October 16, Aviation and Air Force Day.