In addition to ensuring the safety of Bulgaria’s skies, the joint patrols will improve the ability of Bulgarian and Italian pilots to work together according to the alliance. The mission is also reportedly a demonstration of Allied solidarity.
Allied aircraft regularly patrol NATO’s airspace together. In the summer of 2016, for instance, American F-15 fighter jets joined the Bulgarian Airforce for a similar mission.
Bulgaria’s MiG-29 fighter jets have been part of NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence System since 2004, when Bulgaria joined NATO. The system safeguards Allied airspace and its users.
Blimey – just read that Bulgaria only has 9 operational MIG29s, while its SU25s are not serviceable. No wonder it wanted to join NATO.
NATO gas a problem. They have admitted too many Eastern European countries that bring nothing to the defence coalition other than token forces. Rob is right. 9 old Mig 29s is hardly an impressive air force able to protect its own airspace. Are these Eastern European and Baltic countries trying hard as a national maximum effort to resolve their weak defences? No, they are happy to rely on NATO and thus by default UK armed forces for their defence. Madness, NATO should insist that those nations currently too militarily weak have to spend 5-10% GDP to defence ratio to rapidly… Read more »
First sentence should have read
Nato has a problem.
Sorry for typo.