Back القوات الجوية البلغارية Arabic Военновъздушни сили на България Bulgarian Bulharské letectvo Czech Bulgarische Luftstreitkräfte German Fuerza Aérea de Bulgaria Spanish نیروی هوایی بلغارستان FA Force aérienne bulgare French Forza Aérea de Bulgaria GL Bolgár Légierő Hungarian Bălgarski Voennovăzdušni sili Italian
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2016) |
| Bulgarian Air Force | |
|---|---|
| |
 Emblem of the Bulgarian Air Force | |
| Founded | 20 April 1906 |
| Country |  Bulgaria |
| Type | Air force |
| Role | Aerial warfare |
| Size | 8,500 active personnel[1] 126 aircraft |
| Part of | Bulgarian Armed Forces |
| Anniversaries | 16 October |
| Website | af |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Major General Dimitar Petrov |
| Deputy Commander | Brigadier General Petyo Mirchev[2] |
| Chief of Staff | Colonel Dimitar Yankov Georgiev[2] |
| Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force | CMSGT Rumen Petrov[2] |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | Su-25 |
| Fighter | MiG-29 |
| Helicopter | Mil Mi-17, Eurocopter AS 532 Cougar, Bell 206 |
| Attack helicopter | Mil Mi-24 |
| Reconnaissance | An-30 |
| Trainer | L-39, PC-9, Zlín Z 42 |
| Transport | L-410, C-27J Spartan, Pilatus PC-12, An-26, An-2 |
The Bulgarian Air Force (Bulgarian: Военновъздушни сили, romanized: Voennovazdushni sili) is one of the three branches of the Military of Bulgaria, the other two being the Bulgarian Navy and Bulgarian land forces. Its mission is to guard and protect the sovereignty of Bulgarian airspace, and jointly with the other branches, to protect territorial integrity.[2] The Bulgarian Air Force is one of the oldest air forces in Europe and the world. In recent times it has been actively taking part in numerous NATO missions and exercises in Europe.
The current commanding officer of the Bulgarian Air Force is Major General Dimitar Hristov Petrov.[3]
- ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (15 February 2023). The Military Balance 2023. London: Routledge. p. 77. ISBN 9781032508955.
- ^ a b c d "Air Force - Missions and tasks". Bulgarian Ministry of Defense. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ "Major General Dimitar Hristov Petrov - Commander of the Bulgarian Air Force" (PDF). Bulgarian Ministry of Defense. Retrieved 10 January 2022.