Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bulgaria has been experiencing shortage of aviation equipment for years

Photo: BTA

During the official presentation of the results of the inspection in the Air Force after the fatal crash of a training airplane at the "Graf Ignatievo" airport, which cost the lives of two pilots, caretaker Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov pointed out that there was a chronic shortage of serviceable aviation equipment. According to Zapryanov, this shortage has been observed for years in all aviation platforms - the MiG-29 fighters, the Su-25 aircraft, the L-39 training aircraft, and even when it comes to the Spartan transport aircraft. The same applies to the Cougar helicopters and especially to the Mi-17 helicopters, the minister pointed out.

The available number of planes and helicopters for operational use is not sufficient to maintain the necessary flight hours of pilots to perform all the tasks and exercises of combat training, Zapryanov also pointed out.

He specified that much of the information in the report is classified and it will be provided to the Air Force Command as well as to the heads of bases.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Defence minister Zapryanov (L) takes part in the 61st Munich Security Conference, which opened on Friday.

EU accepts Bulgaria's proposal on defence modernisation spending

A procedure will be introduced to exclude military expenditure from the inflation index, Bulgarian Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov announced in Munich, BTA reported. Speaking at the Security Conference, the minister said that Bulgaria had been..

published on 2/16/25 11:33 AM

President Radev calls for stronger EU security and urges North Macedonia to implement Consensus 2022

Addressing the crises facing the EU requires strengthening Europe's global competitiveness and ensuring security, President Rumen Radev said during a meeting with European Council President António Costa at the Munich Security Conference...

published on 2/16/25 10:39 AM
Support for protesting Serbian students in Pirot.

Bulgarians and Serbs from Tsaribrod and Pirot support student protests

Bulgarians and Serbs from the towns of Tsaribrod and Pirot marched in support of the student protests in Serbia , reports BTA. "We want the students' demands to be met and we hope that there will be changes in Serbia," demonstrators from the two towns in..

published on 2/16/25 10:27 AM