Bulgarian Tactical Air Force in 1978




	Bulgarian Air Defence and Air Force’s Tactical Air Units in January 1, 1978

	At the 19th regiment, MiG-19s were withdrawn from service in the mid-seventies. In 1974, five MiG-21MF Fishbed-J arrived at Graf Ignatievo airport. In 1975, they phased out the last MiG-19S tactical fighter. Then, between 1977 and 1978, they received 15 more MiG-21MF and MF-75 fighters from the 18th regiment. The old MiG-19PM Farmer-E interceptors flew in November 1978 for the last time.



	Metal coloured Bulgarian Air Force’s MiG-21MF Fishbed-J tactical fighter with nuclear stike capatity. Delivery in 1974. Photo: Evgeni Andonov collection


	Meanwhile, MiG-21M Fishbed-J aircraft got a new task. Between 1974 and 1975 they received nuclear strike capability role.

Bulgaria’s Cold War nuclear strike force

	The MiG-23BN Flogger-H was the first modern nuclear-capable fighter-bomber to enter Bulgarian service in 1976. The Bulgarian pilots and other crew were trained at the Lugovoy Soviet 715th Training Air Regiment in 1976. The Bulgarian crew received retraining to MiG -23BN Flogger-H bombers. The first Bulgarian MiG-23BNs were delivered in November 1976 to the 25th Fighter-Bomber Air Regiment at Cheshnegirovo airport near Plovdiv. Between 1976 and 1977, 14 MiG-23BN Flogger-H and five MiG-23UB Flogger-C aircraft arrived.

	Grey coloured Bulgarian Air Force’s MiG-23BN fighter-bomber in Cheshnegirovo airport. Photo: Evgeni Andonov collection ->

rey coloured Bulgarian Air Force’s MiG-23BN fighter-bomber in Cheshnegirovo airport. Photo: Evgeni Andonov collection


	The last Bulgarian IL-28R Beagle Reconnaissance aircrafts withdrawn from service in 1974. The old type replaced with MiG-17 Fresco-A type. The photo recce version MiG-17 fresco-A used AFA-39 camera.

Bulgarian aviation crews retraining to MiG-23BN at the Soviet Lugovoy airport in 1976

Bulgarian MiG-23BN Flogger-H History between seventies and eighties




		Bulgarian Mi-4 Hound transport helicopter. Source: pan.bg Retrospotters




		The 44th regiment’s old Mi-1 Hare courier helicopter. Source: pan.bg Retrospotters



		L-29 Delfin trainer aircraft. Photo: Christian Boisselon collection.



		Bulgarian Il-14 Crate on Berlin-Schoenefeld airport. Source: pan.bg Retrospotters

Tags:
Bulgarian Air Force, VVS, Cold War, Warsaw Pact, 10th Composite Air Corps, Plovdiv, 19th Fighter Air Regiment, Graf Ignatievo, MiG-21M Fishbed-J, MiG-21MF Fishbed-J, MiG-19PM Farmer-E, 21st Fighter Air Regiment, Uzundzhovo, MiG-17F Fresco-C, MiG-17PF Fresco-D, 22nd Fighter Bomber Air Regiment, Bezmer, MiG-17 Fresco-A, 25th Fighter Bomber Air Regiment, Cheshnegirovo, MiG-23BN Flogger-H, MiG-17 Fresco-A, 44th Helicopter Air Regiment, Plovdiv, Krumovo, Mi-4 Hound, Mi-8T Hip-C, Mi-2 Hoplite, Mi-1 Hare, 16th Transport Air Regiment, Dobroslavtzi, IL-14 Crate, An-24 Coke, Li-2 Cab, 26th Reconnaissance Air Regiment, Dobrich, MiG-15bisR Fagot-B, MiG-15bis Fagot-B, IL-28R Beagle, IL-28 Beagle, MiG-21R Fishbed-H, MiG-21F-13 Fishbed-C, MiG-17 Fresco-A

Военновъздушни сили, ВВС, Военновъздушни сили на Република България, 10-и САК, 10-и Смесен авиационен корпус, Варшавски договор, Студена война, 19-ти изтребителен авиополк, 19-и ИАП, Граф Игнатиево, МиГ-21МФ, МиГ-21МФ, МиГ-21УМ, МиГ-19ПМ, 21-ви изтребителен авиополк, 19-и ИАП, Узунджово, МиГ-17ПФ, МиГ-17Ф, МиГ-15УТИ, 22-ри изтребително-бомбардировъчен авиополк, 22-ри ИБАП, Безмер, МиГ-17, МиГ-15УТИ, 25-ти изтребителн-бомбардировъчен авиополк, 25-и ИБАП, Чешнегирово, МиГ-23БН, МиГ-23УБ, МиГ-17, МиГ-15УТИ, 26-ти разузнавателен авиополк, 26-и РАП, Толбухин, Добрич, МиГ-21Р, МиГ-17, МиГ-15бисР, МиГ-15бис, МиГ-21Ф-13, 44-ти вертолетен авиополк, 44-ти ВАП, Крумово, Пловдив, Ми-8т, Ми-4, Ми-4а, Ми-2, Ми-1, 2-ри учебно-боен авиополк, 2-ри УАБ, Каменец, МИГ- 15, МИГ- 15УТИ, МИГ-17, 1-ри учебна авиобаза, 1-УАБ, Долна Митрополия, Щръклево, L-29