site.btaBulgarian-U.S. Military Exercise "Thracian Eagle" Starts at Graf Ignatievo Air Base

Bulgarian-U.S. Military Exercise "Thracian Eagle" Held at  Graf Ignatievo Air Base

Graf Ignatievo, Southern Bulgaria, April 18 (BTA) - U.S. jet
fighters F-15 C/D part of the Louisiana Air National Guard have
arrived at the Graf Ignatievo air base to take part in the
second edition of the Bulgarian-U.S. Exercise "Thracian Eagle",
sources from the Graf Ignatievo air base said. The Bulgarian Air
Force will take part with MiG 29 and Su-25 aircraft anda Kub
mobile surface-to-air missile system. The Bulgarian Land Forces
will participate in the training with an Osa surface-to-air
missile system.

The training flights will be performed in April 20 to 30.
Different tasks are planned in the exercise, including air
combat and protection of strategic facilities with
surface-to-air systems. The training is headed by Brigadier
General Ivan Lalov, Commander of the Graf Ignatievo air base.

The aim of Thracian Eagle is the attainment of high
interoperability of the Bulgarian Air Force in NATO-led
operations and improving the theoretical, tactical, special and
flight readiness of the staff, as well as improving the
procedures for an overall logistical support.

The exercises is held according to the Plan for Joint
Bulgarian-U.S. Training under the Agreement between the
governments of Bulgaria and the United States on defence
cooperation, sources from the Graf Ignatievo air base said.