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

New social services launched to help unaccompanied refugee children

The State Agency for Refugees at the Council of Ministers is launching a pilot project for Bulgaria and the EU – creating alternative social services for unaccompanied refugee children, the agency’s press service has announced.   “Four..

published on 7/29/25 7:50 AM

Weather forecast: Colder front sweeps across the country from the Northwest

On Tuesday minimum temperatures will range between 17° C., and 24° C., for Sofia 18° C. Comparatively colder air will sweep across the country from the Northwest. Cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds will form, first over the Western and central..

published on 7/28/25 6:30 PM

Bulgarian students return with 12 medals from biology and linguistics olympiads

Today, Bulgarian students returned with 12 awards from prestigious international Olympiads in Taiwan and the Philippines. Vanesa Kalinkova, a student in the Science and Mathematics High School in Burgas, won a gold medal for Bulgaria and first place in..

published on 7/28/25 6:10 PM