site.bta Joint Excercises of Bulgarian, US Servicemen to Take Place at Graf Ignatievo Air Base

Bulgarian and US servicemen will undergo an intensive week of training and drills at the Graf Ignatievo Air Base, where two joint exercises Falcon Defender-2023 and Falcon Responder-2023 will be held in parallel with the participation of instructors and servicemen from the Tennessee Air National Guard, the Defence Ministry said on Monday.

Falcon Responder – 2023’s goal is joint training and improvement of knowledge and skills of Air Force personnel in emergency rescue and fire protection of an air base. Within five days, trainees from both countries will enhance their theoretical and practical training.

Falcon Defender - 2023 is the third consecutive exercise with partner teams from the Tennessee Air National Guard.

Both previous exercises proved their significant practical benefit from the joint interaction of the Bulgarian and US servicemen in the performance of their functional duties related to the key sectors of security and safety, fire safety and rescue activities at the airbase.

With the modernization and construction of the new airfield infrastructure at the Graf Ignatievo Air Base, where the new F-16 Block 70 multi-role aircraft are to be taken into service, the requirements for these organizational and functional units are being increased, which is being achieved through training of the servicemen in an international environment, the release said.