Bulgaria's air defence corps commander GenDimiter Georgiev has announced that the country will modernise four to six RSKMiG-29 Fulcrum fighters to meet NATO standards instead of acquiring second-hand Lockheed Martin F-16s. The country sought a US offer of used F-16s in January. Georgiev added that only three of Bulgaria's MiG-29s are operational and the air force will retain the aircraft until 2012.
Source: Flight International
The troubled aerostructures manufacturer has become an important supplier of several key US defence programmes, including the air force’s new stealth bomber and the army’s next-generation tiltrotor.
With Boeing having delivered the first operational example of its latest F-15EX multi-role fighter, US Air Force pilots who previously flew the F-15C are beginning the process of transitioning to the new jet.
Airframer Boeing completed upgrades on two existing US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters, bringing the carrier-capable jets up to the latest Block III standard.
