Completing the F-16 simulator and bringing it into regular operation is a critical priority, Bulgarian Air Force Commander Major General Nikolay Rusev said in a written interview with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) on the occasion of the Bulgarian Aviation and Air Force Day.
Major General Rusev also said that the Air Force continues to carry out its missions to safeguard Bulgaria’s airspace without interruption. Regarding countering drones of various classes, the Air Force Commander emphasized that this is a complex task that cannot be accomplished by fighter aircraft alone. Force protection requires the development of a modern, multilayered system of capabilities involving different branches of the armed forces, Major General Rusev added.
The full text of the interview follows:
Q: Does the Air Force have the necessary capabilities to safeguard the country’s airspace? What are the main deficiencies at present?
A: The Air Force continues to carry out its missions to safeguard the airspace of the Republic of Bulgaria, as well as our country’s commitments to NATO’s collective defence, without interruption.
Effective planning and the use of operational flexibility, speed and altitude are key to our success in addressing today’s security challenges.
Naturally, comprehensive modernization is a complex process requiring substantial financial resources, new approaches and dedication, as a single fighter squadron is far from sufficient for the Bulgarian Air Force.
Our main difficulties during this transitional period are related to delays in the delivery of essential spare parts and materials for our existing aircraft and equipment, shortages of consumables and software, as well as current personnel shortfalls.
At the same time, we are finalizing the specialized infrastructure for the new aircraft, with only the calibration and testing equipment laboratory and the parachute maintenance building remaining to be completed.
Q: How many F-16 pilots have completed their training so far? How many are currently undergoing training in the United States?
A: The training of our flight personnel in the United States began in 2020 and is conducted in accordance with the highly intensive American training standards. The programme continues at full pace.
Pilot selection is carried out by Air Force Command according to very strict criteria. The process takes several years, and training costs have increased significantly.
We have also experienced certain disruptions to training schedules for reasons beyond our control, which have further prolonged the process of mastering the new aircraft.
Next year, we expect several more pilots to complete their basic training courses in the United States, including pilots receiving flight leader training.
Once they have gained the necessary practical experience, we will move on to the next crucial stage: training the first Bulgarian F-16 instructors, who will take responsibility for conducting pilot training in Bulgaria.
Q: How will the delay in the delivery of the second batch of eight F-16 aircraft affect their integration into the Air Force? When are the F-16s expected to take over air defence alert duties?
A: The introduction of new equipment takes time, and our first and most important step is the successful transition of flight crews and engineering and technical personnel to the F-16 Block 70 aircraft already delivered at the end of last year.
Our flight operations here are directly dependent on the number of serviceable aircraft and the availability of all necessary resources. Therefore, completing the F-16 simulator and bringing it into regular operation is currently a critical priority for us.
In the near term, our objective is the systematic introduction of the new platform into service and the development of the supporting airfield infrastructure.
At the next stage, our efforts will focus entirely on fully integrating all modern platforms into a unified system in order to achieve the required level of combat readiness to fulfil our national and allied commitments.
Q: Will the Air Force be able to maintain its MiG-29 fighters until the F-16s take over air defence alert duties?
A: Yes, maintaining our existing combat aircraft during the transition period is an essential element of our systematic approach.
Bulgaria’s MiG-29 aircraft were manufactured between 1988 and 1990, and their technical service life of 4,000 flight hours or 40 years is gradually coming to an end.
Our primary objective is to make maximum and safe use of their remaining service life within the prescribed operational lifespan, as the MiG-29 remains the main aircraft responsible for safeguarding our airspace while providing the necessary time for the F-16s to be brought into service.
We are maintaining our traditionally proactive approach and have initiated meetings and inquiries with several countries, including Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, regarding the supply of spare parts and maintenance and repair services.
A procurement procedure has already been launched for a framework agreement covering the major overhaul and restoration of up to 10 RD-33 engines.
At the same time, we are actively implementing contracts for spare parts and consumables to ensure the aircraft remain airworthy until the end of their service life.
Q: What does the Air Force need to ensure optimal protection against drones? Can unmanned aerial vehicles be countered solely by fighter aircraft?
A: Countering unmanned aerial vehicles of various classes is a complex task that certainly cannot be accomplished by fighter aircraft alone.
Force protection requires the development of a modern, multilayered system of capabilities involving different branches of the armed forces.
Our efforts are therefore focused on acquiring new weapons systems for both the anti-aircraft-missile and communications units.
We are already in the final stages of concluding these contracts, with the project for new three-dimensional radar systems representing a particularly important achievement.
We have signed contracts with the French Ministry of Defence and Thales for the radar systems and their maintenance, with payments scheduled to begin by the end of this month through the EU’s SAFE loan instrument.
The next step will be to design and construct sites for these new radar systems and surface-to-air missile systems, enabling us to respond effectively to modern asymmetric threats.
Q: Is the Air Force experiencing personnel shortages? If so, in which areas and to what extent? Are young pilots being given sufficient opportunities?
A: When it comes to personnel shortages, the Air Force is no exception, although the situation varies across military branches and ranks.
Among non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel, shortages are relatively minor thanks to increased interest and the regular recruitment competitions open to graduates of civilian schools, as well as training programmes at military vocational colleges.
The shortage is more serious among officers. However, we are also seeing a positive trend in this area, with an increasing number of young people being admitted to military higher education institutions.
As for training, securing the future of the Air Force is our foremost priority.
All our training planning and infrastructure modernization efforts are aimed at enabling our military personnel to achieve full operational capability with the new combat systems as quickly and effectively as possible.
The selection process for pilots of the new fighter aircraft is conducted according to exceptionally strict and objective criteria to ensure that our most capable personnel operate our modern weapon systems.
Completing F-16 Simulator Is Critical, Air Force Commander Says 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-16 06:18:00
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