Defence Minister Opens Graf Ignatievo Air Base's Landing Zone

Momchil Rusev, BTA correspondent Irina Shopova

Caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov opened Graf Ignatievo Third Air Base's landing zone on July 15, 2024 (BTA Photo/Boyan Botev)

Graf Ignatievo Air Base, South Central Bulgaria,

15.07.2024 13:21

(BTA)

Caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov presented certificate confirming that work at the take-off and landing zone is fit for commissioning to Graf Ignatievo Third Air Base (South Central Bulgaria) Commander Brigadier General Nikolay Rusev on Monday. The first F-16 Block 70 aircraft is expected to arrive in 2025. "We are trying to work at a pace that will allow all sites to be successfully completed and commissioned by then," Zapryanov said.

The ceremony included the redeployment of MiG-29 aircraft from Plovdiv Airport, which resumed flying and combat duty at the Third Air Base.

Zapryanov recalled that 49 projects are being implemented at the Air Base. He added that four projects are important for the adoption of the F-16 and there is a chance that the delay in their implementation will be caught up. Zapryanov addressed the contractors, saying that they are not working for money but are contributing to the combat readiness and security of the military forces. He noted that BGN 111 million had been invested, of which BGN 87 million were Bulgarian funds and BGN 24 million - from the NATO Security Investment Programme.

At the end of August and in November the base will be visited by US experts, the interim minister said.

By the end of the year, the training of the second Bulgarian pilot will be completed. At the end of June, Captain Alexander Velinov became the first pilot to complete the training necessary to operate a F-16 aircraft. All pilots of the first 16 aircraft will be trained in the United States, Zapryanov said.

The eventwas attended by Deputy Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Tanko Stoykov and Air Force Commander Major General Dimitar Petrov, as well as Deputy Ministers of Defence Adelina Nikolova and Ivan Peykov.

In July 2020, a plan for the reconstruction and modernization of Graf Ignatievo Airfield was prepared to ensure the conditions for storage, maintenance and operation of F-16 fighter jets. On July 2, 2024, a construction site was opened, effectively starting the building of a F-16 Block 70 trainer complex. According to the signed contract, the facility should be completed in the third quarter of 2025.

/DS/