After the entry of Soviet troops into the territory of Bulgaria and the September armed uprising in 1944, the Bulgarian Air Force began to receive Soviet aviation equipment. In March 1945, the Bulgarian Air Force received 120 Yak-9 fighters of various modifications (Yak-9D, Yak-9DD, Yak-9M and Yak-9U).
Fighter Yak-9D Bulgarian Air Force
Fighter Yak-9DD Bulgarian Air Force
Fighter Yak-9P in the Museum of the Bulgarian Air Force
In the same 1945, the Bulgarian Air Force received 120 Il-2 attack aircraft and 10 Il-2U training aircraft. The aircraft were used until 1954.
Il-2 attack aircraft at the Bulgarian Air Force Museum
In April 1945, the Soviet Union handed over 96 Pe-2 dive bombers to Bulgaria. They arrived there after the war to replace the German-type bombers that were previously in service with the Bulgarian aviation. In turn, in April-October 1947, the Bulgarians handed over 59 "pawns" to Yugoslavia as reparations. The last Pe-2 was decommissioned by the Bulgarian Air Force in 1956.
September 8, 1946 92.72% of voters voted for the overthrow of the monarchy and the proclamation of the republic. On September 15, 1946, the People's Republic of Bulgaria was proclaimed, the first Prime Minister of which was Georgy Dimitrov, an old communist, friend of Tito and a supporter of the creation of a unified South Slavic state within Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. In this regard, the Bulgarian Air Force receives a new identification mark:
At the same time, supplies of Soviet aviation equipment continued. Thus, Tu-2 bombers and torpedo bombers were delivered.
Bomber Tu-2 Bulgarian Air Force
Torpedo bomber Tu-2T Bulgarian Air Force
Bomber Tu-2 in the Museum of the Air Force of Bulgaria
In 1947, the first Ilyushin attack aircraft arrived: Il-10 and Il-10M. In the period 1953-54. Bulgaria supplied copies of the Il-10-Avia B-33 produced in Czechoslovakia under a Soviet license, armed with 4 NS-23RM aircraft cannons (150 rounds per barrel). How many cars were transferred during this time is unknown.
Il-10 attack aircraft of the Soviet Air Force
After World War II, Bulgaria, on account of reparations for the occupation of Macedonia, transfers a large number of aircraft of various designs to the reviving aviation of Yugoslavia - 100 Messerschmitt Bf.109G-2, G-6, G-10 fighters, DAR-9 Siniger training aircraft, two bombers divisions Pe-2, Il-2 attack aircraft, including 30 light reconnaissance bombers of their own production KB-11 "Fazan". After the repair, the "Fazans" flew in units of the Yugoslav Air Force until 1956.
Light reconnaissance bomber of the Bulgarian production KB-11 "Fazan" of the Air Force of Yugoslavia
The era of jet aircraft has come. The first Bulgarian jet aircraft were the Soviet Yak-23. The first 12 Yak-23s entered the 19th Fighter Aviation Regiment formed in March 1951. They were followed by about a hundred more Yak-23s, in addition, two two-seater Jak-23DCs came from Romania. In total, these fighters were armed with five fighter and fighter-bomber aviation regiments, the 2nd training bomber aviation regiment and the Georgi Benkovski aviation school. The main task of the Yak-23 in the Bulgarian Air Force was to intercept border violators, mainly from Turkey, Yugoslavia and Greece. The Yak-23 remained in service with the Bulgarian Air Force until 1958, and the 43rd Fighter Aviation Regiment became the last part where they were operated.
Yak-23 Bulgarian Air Force
Yak-23 jet fighter in the Bulgarian Air Force Museum
In the early 1950s, the Bulgarian Air Force received 12 MiG-15, 24 MiG-15bis and 30 MiG-15UTI. In 1960, 12 MiG-15Rbis reconnaissance fighters arrived in Bulgaria. In 1955, two Bulgarian MiG-15s shot down an Israeli passenger aircraft L-149, which violated Bulgarian airspace. Israeli pilots ignored the warnings and even tried to break away from the patrol, and the Bulgarian government ordered the plane to be shot down. A passenger liner exploded near the town of Petrich. As a result, seven crew members and 51 passengers, including three children, were killed.
Training MiG-15 UTI of the Bulgarian Air Force
In 1955, the Bulgarian Air Force supplied 14 reconnaissance aircraft based on the Il-28-Il-28R bomber and one training Il-28U. They were in service until 1974.
IL-28 at the Museum of the Bulgarian Air Force
In 1955-56, the Bulgarian Air Force received 12 MiG-17, 60 MiG-17F and 12 MiG-17PF jet fighters. In addition, in subsequent years, the fighter fleet was replenished with Polish-made Lim-5 aircraft. In 1963, 10 MiG-17R reconnaissance aircraft were received. In 1956, the MiG-17 of the Bulgarian Air Force shot down several automatic drifting balloons with reconnaissance equipment. In total, the MiG-17s were in service with six squadrons, until at the beginning of the 60s they began to be replaced by the MiG-19. In 1995, the Air Force still had 60 MiG-17s, probably flightless.
Fighter MiG-17F in the Museum of the Air Force of Bulgaria
Fighter MiG-17PF Bulgarian Air Force
MiG-17 PF with RP-1 "Izumrud" in the Museum of the Bulgarian Air Force
In addition to combat aircraft, Yak-11 training fighters, Li-2 and Il-14 transport aircraft were supplied to Bulgaria from the USSR (17 aircraft were delivered).
Training fighter Yak-11 at the Museum of the Bulgarian Air Force
Transport aircraft Li-2 at the Bulgarian Air Force Museum
Il-14 transport aircraft at the Bulgarian Air Force Museum
At the same time, the development of its own Bulgarian aircraft did not stop. So, since 1948, 160 Laz-7 trainer aircraft designed by engineer Ivan Lazarov have been produced. Moreover, in addition to using it as a training vehicle, Laz-7 was in service with two divisions of light night bombers, created following the example of Soviet units armed with U-2 (Po-2) during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. G.
Laz-7 of the second division of light night bombers of the Bulgarian Air Force
Then, 150 units of its modernized version, the Laz-7M, with the Soviet M-11FR engine were produced.
Training aircraft Laz-7M
However, these were the last Bulgarian aircraft. The next models Laz-8, Laz-9 and Laz-12, like the jet Laz-14, remained on paper.
This is what the Laz-14 jet was supposed to look like.
Given the mountainous nature of Bulgaria, helicopters play an important role in transportation. Therefore, Soviet light Mi-1s (served until 1971) and transport Mi-4s (served until 1985) were delivered to Bulgaria.
Light helicopter Mi-1 at the Bulgarian Air Force Museum
Transport helicopter Mi-4 at the Bulgarian Air Force Museum
It should be noted that among the countries of the Warsaw Pact, Bulgaria was considered the most reliable ally of the USSR. There were no Soviet troops on its territory, and the Bulgarian People's Army was the only army that had to be used independently: to seize the European part of Turkey and reach the straits and act against Greece, and, if necessary, against Yugoslavia.
At the beginning of 1958, Bulgaria received 24 supersonic MiG-19S fighters, which were distributed between the 19th IAP at the Graf Ignatiev airbase (used until 1965) and the aviation regiment at the Uzundievo airfield (until 1963). Later, some of the aircraft were brought together in a separate squadron in Uzundievo, where they were operated until 1978. In 1966, Bulgaria received its former MiG-19P and MiG-19PM from Poland. At the Dobroslavtsy airbase, they were used until 1975.
MiG-19S of the 19th IAP of the Bulgarian Air Force
Fighter MiG-19PM in the Museum of the Air Force of Bulgaria
In the early 60s, the era of the MiG-21 began. From 1963 to 1990, the Bulgarians received 226 aircraft of 11 different modifications (F-13, M, MF, PF, PFM, U, UM, R, bis). In September 1963, the 19th Fighter Aviation Regiment received 12 MiG-21F-13s, later some of these aircraft were converted into a reconnaissance version of the MiG-21F-13R and transferred to the 26th Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment. Decommissioned in 1988. In January 1965, the second squadron of the 18th Aviation Regiment received 12 MiG-21PFs, as in the case of the F-13, some of these aircraft were converted into a reconnaissance version of the MiG-21PFR and transferred to the 26th Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment. Removed from service in 1991. In addition to the MiG-21PF, in 1965 the Bulgarian Air Force received 12 MiG-21PFMs. In 1977-1978, they were followed by another 36 used Soviet MiG-21PFM and two such fighters in 1984. All MiG-21PFMs were in service with the 15th Aviation Regiment until 1992. In 1962, the 26th brigade received six reconnaissance MiG-21Rs. In 1969-1970. 15 MiG-21Ms were received in the 19th IAP, these aircraft finished service in 1990 in the 21st IAP. In 1974-1975, Bulgaria received twenty MiG-21MF, some of which were later converted into a reconnaissance version of the MiG-21MFR and transferred to the 26th reconnaissance aviation regiment. These aircraft were decommissioned in 2000. From 1983 to 1990, the Bulgarian Air Force received 72 MiG-21bis. Half of them were in self-propelled guns (30 new, 6 used), these fighters were received by the 19th Aviation Regiment, and the other half with the Lazur system. In addition to the combat MiG-21s, the Bulgarian Air Force received 39 twin pairs in versions MiG-21U (1 in 1966), MiG-21US (5 in 1969-1970) and MiG-21UM (27 new in 1974-1980 and 6 used Soviet in 1990). The last training MiG-21s were decommissioned in 2000, and before that, in 1994, ten MiG-21UMs were sold to India. Over the entire period of operation, 38 fighters were lost in plane crashes: 3 MiG-21F-13, 4 MiG-21PF, 7 MiG-21PFM, 5 MiG-21M, 6 MiG-21MF, 2 MiG-21bis, 2 MiG-21R, 1 MiG -21US and 8 MiG-21UM. Of these, only 10 MiG-21bis are now maintained in flight condition, including two "twin". The remaining MiG-21bis still fly without modernization due to lack of money.
MiG-21PFM Bulgarian Air Force
MiG-21bis Bulgarian Air Force in flight
MiG-21MFR reconnaissance aircraft at the Bulgarian Air Force Museum
As training in the period 1963-1974. the Bulgarians were supplied with 102 Czechoslovak Aero L-29 Delfin, which served until 2002.
L-29 Delfin at the Bulgarian Air Force Museum
The 70s were the heyday of the Bulgarian aviation. In 1976, the MiG-23 began to enter service. In total, the Bulgarians received 90 MiGs of this modification in versions MF, BN, UB, MLA, MLD (33 MiG-23BN, 12 MiG-23MF, 1 MiG-23ML, 8 MiG-23MLA, 21 MiG-23MLD, 5 of which the Bulgarian Air Force received from Russia in 1991 in exchange for 3 MiG-25RBT and 15 MiG-23UB). The MiG-23 served in the Bulgarian Air Force until 2004.
MiG-23BN of the 25th bap of the Bulgarian Air Force
MiG-23UB at the Bulgarian Air Force Museum
Also, the Bulgarian Air Force received 18 Su-22M4 and 5 Su-22UM, which also flew until 2004.
Su-22M4 at the Bulgarian Air Force Museum
For training purposes, about 30 Czechoslovak Aero L-39 Albatros were delivered, 12 of which, according to some sources, are still in operation, according to others, they have already been removed from service.
L-39 Albatros Bulgarian Air Force
In the late 1970s, the NRB Air Force began arming with attack helicopters. In 1979, the newly formed fire support squadron as part of the 44th helicopter regiment received the first 4 Mi-24Ds. In 1980, the regiment was redeployed from Plovdiv to the Krumovo airfield, and the fire support squadron to Stara Zagora, where it became the basis of the 13th combat helicopter regiment. In total, by 1985, the regiment received 38 Mi-24D and 6 Mi-24V. In October 2000, the helicopters were relocated to Krumovo, where they became part of the 2nd squadron of the 24th helicopter base. Currently, the Mi-24 has been withdrawn from service.
A pair of Bulgarian Mi-24s in flight
In 1979-1980, Bulgaria received 6 Mi-14PL anti-submarine helicopters from the USSR, one of which crashed in January 1986. In 1990, 3 more used Mi-14PLs were purchased. In 1983, a separate helicopter squadron received 2 Mi-14BT minesweeper helicopters, one of them was decommissioned in 1985, the trawling equipment was removed from the second, after which the helicopter was used as a transport helicopter. By 2001, four Mi-14PLs remained suitable for flight, two of which were repaired in 2000, with the aim of extending the service life until 2007-2008. In 2013, the Mi-14PL was replaced by the AS.565MB Panther.
Anti-submarine helicopter Mi-14PL in the Museum of the Bulgarian Air Force
In 1982, Bulgaria was the only European allies of the USSR to receive 4 MiG-25RB reconnaissance bombers (3 MiG-25RB and 1 MiG-25RU). The aircraft entered the 12th reconnaissance regiment. On April 12, 1984, one of them (b / n 736) was lost in a plane crash. However, the high-speed MiG-25RB in the conditions of Bulgaria turned out to be an unsuitable aircraft, it simply did not have enough territory to accelerate, and therefore in May 1991 the Bulgarians returned them to the USSR, exchanging them for 5 MiG-23MLD fighters.
MiG-25RB "red 754" of the Bulgarian Air Force.
3 transport An-26s were also delivered to Bulgaria, 3 of which are still in operation.
An-26 Bulgarian Air Force
In 1985-1991. Bulgaria received a batch of Mi-8/17 transport helicopters from the Soviet Union. In 2000, 25 Mi-17 helicopters remained in service with the Bulgarian Air Force, in 2004 - 18. In 1989-1990. The Bulgarian Air Force received four Mi-17PP electronic warfare helicopters, which were first publicly demonstrated only in 1999. In the same 1999, special radio-electronic equipment and antennas were dismantled from three Mi-17PP helicopters. The fourth Mi-17PP was "demodernized" in 2000. one of these helicopters was converted into a fire-fighting helicopter by installing a side for 3 tons of water in the cargo-passenger cabin.
Transport helicopter Mi-8 at the Museum of the History of the Bulgarian Air Force
Mi-17. Bulgarian Air Force. 2007 year.
In October 1986, Bulgaria received 36 Su-25Ks and four Su-25UBKs. The aircraft were operated by 22 ibaps, where they replaced the MiG-17 and MiG-15UTI. One plane (along with the pilot) was lost in the crash on April 17, 1989. After the collapse of the Warsaw Pact, maintaining combat-ready aircraft became a headache for the Bulgarian command. 4 attack aircraft were sold to Georgia in 2008, another 10 to it in 2012. Currently, the Bulgarian Air Force has 14 Su-25s.
Su-25K Bulgarian Air Force in flight
Su-25UBK Bulgarian Air Force
In 1990, Bulgaria received 22 fighters (18 fighters, 4 combat training). One of the planes was lost in the crash on 9.09.1994. The MiG-29s are in service with two fighter regiments (in Ravnets and Yambol). In March 2006, an agreement was signed with RSK MiG on overhaul and modernization of 16 fighters. By the end of May 2009, the contract was fully completed. Currently, the Bulgarian Air Force includes 12 MiG-29 and 3 MiG-29UB.
MiG-29 Bulgarian Air Force
In 1989, the Bulgarian Air Force was armed with about 300 fighters. However, the Warsaw Pact Organization collapsed, then the USSR, liberals came to power in Bulgaria, who first of all began to reduce the Armed Forces, the first thing they did was to change the identification mark of the Bulgarian aircraft
The nineties became a difficult time for the Bulgarian aviation, there was no fuel, no exercises were carried out, the planes were constantly written off. In April 2004 Bulgaria joined NATO. In preparation for joining the North Atlantic Alliance, the Bulgarian Air Force underwent a major restructuring in 2003. The number of aircraft and helicopters was reduced from 465 in 1998 to 218 in 2003. De facto, the Bulgarian Air Force at the turn of the XX-XXI centuries. actually lost their combat effectiveness, since most of the aircraft in service "on the list" were unfit for flight. Naturally, the new allies demanded that Bulgaria buy Western aircraft. In 2004, the Bulgarian Air Force bought 6 Pilatus PC-9M piston trainer aircraft from Switzerland.
Training aircraft Pilatus PC-9M of the Bulgarian Air Force
In 2004, an agreement was signed with Eurocopter for the purchase of 12 multipurpose AS-532AL Cougar for the Air Force and six AS-565MB Panther for the Navy.
Multipurpose helicopter AS-532AL "Cougar" of the Bulgarian Air Force
In 2006, 3 C-27J Spartan light military transport aircraft were ordered from the Italian airline Alenia. Initially, the agreement envisaged the supply of five aircraft, but in 2010, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense decided to abandon the last two. The military department announced its decision in August last year. The reason for the abandonment of aircraft was the military budget deficit. The funds saved on the fourth and fifth Spartan, Bulgaria planned to spend on the payment of the third plane.
C-27J Spartan Bulgarian Air Force
Bulgaria is currently looking for a replacement for the MiG-29. Given the pro-Western policy of the Bulgarian government, most likely, the replacement will be the American F-16, or removed from service somewhere in Europe. The Belgians have already offered F-16MLUs, which are being retired from their Air Force. The Americans responded with an offer to supply F-16 block 52+ fighters, the Swedes traditionally offered the Saab JAS-39 Gripen fighter. However, Bulgarians traditionally have no money. So let's see …
