site.btaMultinational Thracian Blade 2026 Exercise Demonstrates Air Combat and Rescue Capabilities at Chesnegirovo Air Base
A capability demonstration day of the multinational air exercise Thracian Blade 2026 took place at Chesnegirovo Air Base on Wednesday.
The exercise involves personnel and equipment from the air forces of Bulgaria, Austria, Belgium, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Hungary and Switzerland. Units from the Bulgarian Land Forces, the Military Police Service, the Joint Special Operations Command and the Military Medical Academy also took part in joint tasks and missions. Participants demonstrated combat capabilities and presented static displays of Bulgarian and foreign aircraft.
The audience observed a scenario in which a pair of Bulgarian F-16 fighter jets pursued "enemy" MiG-29 aircraft and forced them to withdraw from the area of operations aimed at regaining control of an airport seized by opposing forces. A pair of Su-25 aircraft from Bezmer Air Base simulated strikes against enemy positions using onboard weaponry.
A Spartan military transport aircraft conducted a parachute cargo drop from an altitude of 250-300 metres. Participants also demonstrated an operation to secure the drop zone from the air.
Two OH-58 Kiowa helicopters from the Austrian Air Force and a Mi-35 helicopter from the Serbian Air Force carried out an aerial surveillance and perimeter security mission. Cougar helicopters then conducted the evacuation of a "wounded" servicemember from a hostile environment. The rescue helicopter landed briefly to allow rescuers to load the casualty and depart the danger zone as quickly as possible, while a second armed Cougar helicopter provided cover.
The multinational Thracian Blade exercise is being held in Bulgaria for the first time. Its aim is to enhance planning and execution skills for Composite Air Operations (COMAO) in support of land forces and special operations units, as well as to improve interoperability among military transport helicopter crews operating within multinational forces.
The exercise's main objectives are to improve crews' tactical and specialist training for conducting composite air operations in an environment with active opposition from simulated enemy air defence systems and to strengthen operational interoperability.
At the end of the demonstrations, Bulgarian Air Force Commander Major General Nikolay Rusev presented commemorative plaques to the commanders of the foreign contingents participating in the exercise.
/KK/
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