Structure of the Bulgarian Air Force explained

The structure of the Bulgarian Air Force is detailed below.

Air Forces and Air Defence, c.1988

The headquarters of the Air Forces and Air Defence were in Sofia.[1] The Air Force had grown from six FB, twelve fighter-interceptor, and three reconnaissance squadrons circa 1981.[2]

Air Forces and Air Defence Headquarters

When the 10th Mixed Air Corps was formed in 1961 the 16th Transport Air Regiment was part of it, but later it was subordinated directly to the Air Force and Air Defence Forces Headquarters, as the regiment was planned to form Directorate of the Military Transport and Specialised Aviation (Управление на Военнотранспортната и Специалната Авиация (ВТА и СА)) during wartime, when the national airline BGA Balkan would have been mobilized.[3]

The two air defence divisions were coordinated by an Air Defence Command Post in Sofia. The separation line between their areas of responsibility ran along a line from Ruse through Nova Zagora to Svilengrad.[4]

1st Air Defence Division

2nd Air Defence Division

People's Higher Air Force School

The modern Bulgarian Air Force Training originates from 1955, when by order #182/ 1955 (July 6, 1955) the commander of the People's Higher Air Force School transferred the 1st Combat Training Air Squadron (1ва Учебно-Бойна Авиационна Ескадрила (1. УБАЕ)) with its Yak-11 trainers from Telish Air Base to Kamenets Air Base and transformed it into 2nd Combat Training Air Regiment (2ри Учебно-Боен Авиационен Полк (2. УБАП)) with its 2 Yak-11 squadrons transitioning to Yak-17 and Yak-23. In the following year the air regiment transitioned to MiG-15/MiG-15bis/UMiG-15, and then to MiG-17s in 1963.

In 1967 the 2nd Combat Training Air Regiment split in two separate combat-training air regiments. The 1st Combat Training Air Regiment relocated to Shtraklevo Air Base close to Ruse with two MiG-17 squadrons and a third squadron relocated to Dolna Mitropoliya. The remainder of 2nd Combat Training Air Regiment stayed in Kamenets with two MiG-17 squadrons, retaining its designations. In 1969 the 1st Combat Training Air Regiment (1 CATR) formed a fourth MiG-17 squadron at Dolna Mitropoliya (1st and 2nd at Straklevo, 3rd and 4th at Dolna Mitropoliya AB). In 1971 the 3rd and 4th Squadrons split from the 1st CTAR, becoming 1st and 2nd Squadrons of a newly formed 3rd Combat Training Air Regiment at Dolna Mitropoliya. The replacement of the MiG-17 with Aero L-29 Delfín jet trainers started in 1964 at 2nd CTAR at Kamenets with small numbers used for the training of flight instructors. In 1965 the training of air force cadets on the L-29 started from the 3rd Squadron of 1st CTAR at Dolna Mitropoliya, and continued with the progress in deliveries with the 1st and 2nd Squadrons in Shtraklevo and the newly formed 4th Squadron in Dolna Mitropoliya.

The 2nd CTAR converted its 1st Squadron to MiG-21 in 1984 and its 2nd Squadron to L-39 in 1986.

Air Force and Air Defence Forces Equipment

In 1989 the air force's inventory consisted of:

The three anti-aircraft missile brigades were equipped with the following air defence systems:

Structure c. 2019

References

  1. Web site: Bulgaria Air Force. World Air Forces. 14 November 2017.
  2. Book: William J. Lewis. The Warsaw Pact: arms, Doctrine, and Strategy. Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis/mCGraw Hill. Cambridge, Mass.. 1982. 133.
  3. "The Bulgarian Aviation During the Cold War", page 318, by Dimitar Nedyalkov, printed by the Military Publishing, Ministry of Defence ("Българската Авиация През Студената Война", автор: Димитър Недялков, 2011г., издателство: Военно Издателство,)
  4. Book: Authors collective of retired Major-Generals and Colonels. История на Зенитно-ракетните войски на ВВС и ПВО на Българската Армия (History of the Missile Air defence Troops of the Air Force and Air Defence of the Bulgarian Army). Военно Издателство (the Ministry of Defence's publishing house). 2005. 954-509-322-6. Sofia, Bulgaria. 48.
  5. Web site: ВКЦ | Съвместно командване на силите . 4 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612200227/http://jfc.armf.bg/VKTs/18.html . 12 June 2018 . live .
  6. Web site: Bulgaria sells ten Su-25s to Georgia . 27 June 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130710200517/http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/146055/bulgaria-sells-ten-su_25s-to-georgia.html . 10 July 2013 . live .
  7. Web site: Аеропрес - ВВС с нова авиобаза . 8 July 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170709110509/http://www.aeropress-bg.com/news/bulgaria/4581-%D0%B2%D0%B2%D1%81-%D1%81-%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0-%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B0 . 9 July 2017 . live .

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