site.btaDefence Ministry Refutes Allegations that Flights from Graf Ignatievo Air Base Have Been Suspended

Sofia, October 24 (BTA) - Deputy Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov on Tuesday refuted allegations that flights from the Graf Ignatievo Air Base have been suspended.

According to Zapryanov, the Russian company RSK MiG has delivered 10 engines for Bulgaria's MiG-29 fighter aircraft, including six new engines and four used ones which have been repaired and are in good technical condition. The repaired engines cannot be used because the accompanying documents are copies, not originals, and it is still unclear whether they match the originals. The Russian side is expected within 10 days from now to confirm that the copies are authentic.

The Defence Council has provided an additional 20 million leva to buy aircraft fuel until the end of the year, Zapryanov went on to say. The fuel will be enough to use until October 2018, he added.

The Bulgarian Air Force currently has seven operational MiG-29 fighters. If the engines received from Russia go into use, the number of operational fighters can increase to nine or ten, which is enough for the training of pilots, the Deputy Defence Minister said.

He noted that some pilots at the Graf Ignatievo Air Base lack confidence because they have insufficient flight hours.