site.btaJoint Military Flight Exercise Thracian Viper 2024 Opens on Tuesday

The opening ceremony of the joint military flight training Thracian Viper 2024 will be held at the 22nd Air Base in the village of Bezmer, Southeastern Bulgaria, the Defence Ministry press service reported on Tuesday. The event will be attended by the caretaker Minister of Defence Atanas Zapryanov, the Deputy Chief of Defence, Lt. Gen. Tsanko Stoykov, Air Force Commander Mjr. Gen. Dimitar Petrov and Brig Gen Tad D. Clark, Commander of the 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy.

The joint flight training, which is taking place from July 11 to August 9, 2024, involves forces and assets from the Army, Air Forces of Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, the US.

The training will involve Su-25, MiG-29, F-16 and C-130 aircraft, 2K12 Kub (SA-6) and 9K33 Osa (SA-8) missile systems, AS532 AL Cougar and Mi-24 helicopters. Up to 200 servicepersons will be deployed during the exercise.