site.btaBulgarian, Hellenic Air Forces Conduct Air Policing Exercise Green Bridge 2023

On September 20, 2023, crews of MiG-29 from the Bulgarian Air Force 3rd Air Base and F-16C/D from the Hellenic Air Force's Nea Anchialos Air Base conducted training to improve their response in passing an intruder aircraft in both countries’ airspace as part of the 2023 Green Bridge exercise, the Bulgarian Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.

A Hellenic Air Force’s C-27J Spartan military transport performed the role of a passenger aircraft which has deviated from its route (an intruder aircraft). In the first part of the training, it was intercepted by the Greek fighters, escorted, and passed to the Bulgarian stand-by crews which performed an air policing mission, forcing it to land at Plovdiv Airport.

During the second stage of the training, the intruder aircraft was escorted by Bulgarian MiG-29 and passed to the F-16 pair. Their mission was to escort the intruder before forcing it to land at a Greek airport. 

In the training, the national control and reporting centres handled the passing of the intruder aircraft as they do in real practice.

The joint flights with the Hellenic Air Force, which are conducted for a ninth year, seek to improve coordination and interoperability and enhance the training of both countries' pilots.