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

Defence Minister Tagarev: Bulgaria has maintenance problems with its MiG-29s

Todor Tagarev
Photo: BTA

Defence Minister Todor Tagarev admitted that Bulgaria has problems with the maintenance of its MiG-29 aircraft. He added that the planes should remain in service until they are replaced by F-16s. 

"The MiG-29s are upkept with an effort, but their engines cannot be maintained in this way," he said during his hearing at the parliamentary defence committee, as quoted by BGNES news agency. The first batch of F-16 Block 70s should be delivered by 2025, and the last by 2030. "We hope to be able to conclude a contract to overhaul our engines," Tagarev said.

During the hearing, it was revealed that a Bulgarian aircraft has been at an airport in Ukraine for about a year, but its return has been hampered by a lack of safe conditions.



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

Autumn weather is coming, but daytime temperatures are still high

On Thursday, the lowest temperatures will be between 8 and 13°C; in Sofia – about 8°C. During the day, there will be variable cloudiness, which will decrease to sunny weather over many regions. The wind will be moderate from the..

published on 9/17/25 7:05 PM

Parliament to vote on the fifth motion of no confidence against the Zhelyazkov cabinet on Thursday

The vote on the fifth motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov's government will take place on Thursday, September 18, at 4:45 PM, said the presiding chair of the parliamentary session, Nikoleta Kuzmanova following the end of..

published on 9/17/25 5:46 PM

The military plant in Sopot: Not only the company, but also Bulgaria is being discredited

Regarding a video published on YouTube, the management of VMZ-Sopot - the largest state-owned military enterprise in Bulgaria, say that the information presented does not correspond to the truth. The enterprise strongly objects to..

published on 9/17/25 5:15 PM