Great MiG-21, MiG-29 and Su-25 air-to-air images - from Bulgarian & Polish Air Force

[GoldComet6]

Great MiG-21, MiG-29 and Su-25 air-to-air images - from Bulgarian & Polish Air Force

These may be the best MiG-21, MiG-29 and Su-25 air-to-air images you’ve ever seen...really!

Last week, aviation photographer Anton Balakchiev was among a group of reporters who were given the really unique chance to take air-to-air photographs of the last operational Bulgarian Air Force MiG-21 Fishbed jets.The type should be retired at the end of this year after 52 years of active service in BuAF.

I have attached a few samples of his work...enjoy. Lots more pics on his web site and they are full size images.
http://www.balakchiev.com/en/images-go/tango-scramble#&panel1-1

Here is where I got the story....it's a a good military aviation web site.
http://theaviationist.com/2015/10/19/buaf-fishbeds-fulcrums-frogfoots/

 

[marchplumber]

These may be the best MiG-21, MiG-29 and Su-25 air-to-air images you’ve ever seen...really!

Last week, aviation photographer Anton Balakchiev was among a group of reporters who were given the really unique chance to take air-to-air photographs of the last operational Bulgarian Air Force MiG-21 Fishbed jets.The type should be retired at the end of this year after 52 years of active service in BuAF.


I have attached a few samples of his work...enjoy. Lots more pics on his web site and they are full size images.
http://www.balakchiev.com/en/images-go/tango-scramble#&panel1-1

Here is where I got the story....it's a a good military aviation web site.
http://theaviationist.com/2015/10/19/buaf-fishbeds-fulcrums-frogfoots/

THANKS for the great photos!! 52years is a LONG time to be in active service!!

 

[GoldComet6]

THANKS for the great photos!! 52 years is a LONG time to be in active service!!

Bulgaria is in the process of trying to replace the old Soviet era aircraft with Western types. They have had to use the MiG-21s a long time due to budget constraints! Since it joined NATO, it has been a long term goal to update their aircraft.

Bulgaria to begin negotiations for 'new' fighter aircraft (From Jane's / July 2015)


Bulgaria has approved the procurement of a new combat aircraft type to replace its ageing MiG-29 'Fulcrum' and Sukhoi Su-25 'Frogfoot' platforms, national media reported on 1 July.
The country's cabinet approved the purchase of an as-yet-unidentified combat aircraft to replace the air force's Warsaw Pact-era fighters that have been in service since 1988 and 1986 respectively, according to the Novinite.com Sofia News Agency .

Defence minister Nikolay Nenchev made the announcement that he is to begin negotiations with Belgium, Greece, and the Netherlands for the procurement of surplus Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon jets, although another aircraft type from a different source remains an option. According to Nenchev, the air force requires at least nine aircraft to retain a viable 'combat air' capability.

While timelines were not disclosed, the minister is reported to have said that the issue of a repair agreement for the MiG-29s currently in service is not driving any deadlines as he expects a contract to be signed with Poland by the end of August at the latest.

Since announcing its plans to recapitalize its combat aircraft fleet, Bulgaria has been linked to the purchase of surplus Block 25 F-16s from the US Air National Guard, F-16AM midlife upgrade aircraft from Belgium, early tranche Eurofighter Typhoons from the Italian Air Force, surplus Saab Gripens from Sweden, as well as the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex/Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (PAC/CAC) JF-17 Thunder. This latest announcement by Nenchev now throws Dutch F-16AM and Greek F-16C/D platforms into the mix.

The acquisition of 'new' fighters is expected to cost approximately BGN500 million (USD283 million).

 

[USAFSS-ColdWarrior]

Thanks or posting the pics and the links, Comrade.

 

[GoldComet6]

Thanks for posting the pics and the links, Comrade.

You are welcome Sir!

Or for those that speak Russian... Вы можете Сэр !