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Defence Minister Tagarev: Bulgaria has maintenance problems with its MiG-29s

published on 7/19/23 4:58 PM

Todor Tagarev

Photo: BTA

Defence Minister Todor Tagarev admitted that Bulgaria has problems with the maintenance of its MiG-29 aircraft. He added that the planes should remain in service until they are replaced by F-16s.

"The MiG-29s are upkept with an effort, but their engines cannot be maintained in this way," he said during his hearing at the parliamentary defence committee, as quoted by BGNES news agency. The first batch of F-16 Block 70s should be delivered by 2025, and the last by 2030. "We hope to be able to conclude a contract to overhaul our engines," Tagarev said.

During the hearing, it was revealed that a Bulgarian aircraft has been at an airport in Ukraine for about a year, but its return has been hampered by a lack of safe conditions.

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Radio Bulgaria News Defence F-16 maintenance problems MIG-29 parliamentary defence committee Todor Tagarev

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