Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

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

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.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Weather remains warm with afternoon showers in the mountains

On Saturday, the lowest temperatures will range from 7°C to 12°C, around 8°C in Sofia. The weather will be mostly sunny during the day. Cumulus clouds will develop In the afternoon hours, but the chance of precipitation is low. Maximum..

published on 5/2/25 6:35 PM
European Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva (L) and BAS President Evelina Slavcheva.

European Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva discusses achievements of Bulgarian scientists with BAS President Evelina Slavcheva

At a meeting at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), President Evelina Slavcheva and European Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva, discussed the involvement of BAS scientists in the Horizon Europe Framework..

published on 5/2/25 5:38 PM

100 Bulgarian children suffer from severe thalassemia

A few days before World Thalassaemia Day on 8 May, doctors and families affected by the disease discussed ways of early diagnosis and prevention. According to health statistics, about 170 000 Bulgarians carry the gene mutation for this rare hereditary..

published on 5/2/25 5:21 PM