Bulgaria forced to keep MiG-29s flying longer after failing to secure second-hand F-16s
Bulgaria will have to maintain its aging MiG-29 Fulcrum fleet in service longer than planned after failing to procure second-hand F-16s to bridge the gap until new Vipers arrive. The country received eight F-16 Vipers in 2025 and ordered eight more, but the second batch is delayed and Bulgaria could not find enough used F-16s on the market to cover the shortfall. Maintaining Soviet-era fighters has become increasingly difficult.
Bulgaria requests NATO deployment of combat aircraft and counter-drone systems after Black Sea ship attacks
Bulgaria formally asked NATO to deploy combat aircraft and counter-UAS systems to its territory following two cargo-ship sinkings in Bulgarian Black Sea waters within a week. Defense Minister statements indicate Bulgaria dropped earlier cost objections and plans to join NATO's counter-drone initiative by 30 October. The request follows attacks attributed to unmanned systems operating near Bulgarian territorial waters.
Why it matters: Two sunken ships inside a week turned Sofia from budget objector to urgent supplicant—NATO now faces the question of whether Black Sea airspace demands a standing air-policing mission, not episodic task forces.
NATO Battle Group in Bulgaria completes Golden Tiger and Silver Tiger live-fire exercises
The Multinational Battle Group in Bulgaria concluded the Golden Tiger and Silver Tiger live-fire exercises on August 24 at Novo Selo Training Area. The drills tested the battle group's readiness under realistic operational conditions.
Bulgaria's final eight F-16 Vipers now delayed until 2030
Bulgaria will not receive its final eight F-16 Viper fighters before 2030, according to Opex360. The Bulgarian Air Force has struggled to maintain its legacy MiG-29 fleet, especially since the Ukraine war complicated spare parts. Sofia ordered 16 F-16s in two batches from Lockheed Martin, but deliveries continue to slip.
Why it matters: Bulgaria now faces a multi-year capability gap between MiG retirement and F-16 delivery — a warning for other Eastern European air forces counting on timely Western fighter deliveries to close Soviet-legacy holes.
Bulgaria's final eight F-16 Vipers now delayed until 2030
Bulgaria will not receive its last eight F-16 Block 70 Viper fighters before 2030, according to French defense outlet Opex360. Bulgaria ordered sixteen F-16s in two batches; the delay leaves the Bulgarian Air Force struggling to maintain its ageing MiG-29 fleet, whose sustainment has become severely complicated since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Why it matters: Bulgaria is now in a capability gap it created by deferring the MiG replacement decision for a decade—a case study in how industrial lead times punish procurement delays.