Poland to service Bulgaria's Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets

[Hindustani78]

The Associated Press 11:35 a.m. EDT August 28, 2015
Poland to service Bulgaria's Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets

People look at the Mig-29 jet fighter preparing for take off during an open air show in the military air base of Graf Ignatievo, east of the Bulgarian capital Sofia, Friday, June, 1, 2007.(Photo: PETAR PETROV/AP)

WARSAW, Poland — Poland's defense ministry says the country has reached a preliminary agreement with Bulgaria to modernize the Balkan country's Soviet-era fleet of MiG-29 fighter jets.

The deal comes as Bulgaria seeks to reduce its reliance on Russia in light of the Ukraine crisis, which has made many countries across the former Soviet bloc nervous.

The Polish Defense Ministry said a letter of intent was signed in Bulgaria on Friday between the defense ministers of the two countries, which are allies in NATO and the European Union.

Polish Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said, "We are aware of the great importance of this decision and that it also has a geopolitical dimension."

Under the new deal, Poland would service, renovate and modernize Bulgaria's MiG-29s from mid-2016. The value of the deal wasn't disclosed.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-bulgaria-defence-charge-idUSKBN13I0SL
Wed Nov 23, 2016 | 4:34am EST

Bulgarian prosecutors charged outgoing Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev on Wednesday over an agreement with NATO ally Poland for repairs of its Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets.

The charges allege that Poland may not be able to repair the jets, a situation that would threaten Bulgaria's air defenses.

Last year, Sofia decided to turn to Poland to servicing the jets as part of a push by Bulgaria, Moscow's most loyal ally during the Cold War, to reduce its reliance on Russia.

The Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG - the maker of the fighter jets - said the jets could not be repaired in Poland because Warsaw did not have the right to provide spare parts for the aircraft to third countries.

Under the agreement, Bulgaria gets two jet engines on loan from Poland for two years, and Warsaw will repair the engines of six MiG-29 jets for an estimated 6.14 million euros.

(Reporting by Angel Krasimirov, editing by Larry King)

 

[Star Expedition]

Although the Soviet Union passed away, all members still benefit from it.
That's why it is great.

 

[Deliorman]

You are either a hardcore commie or just joking... hope it's the second. One of the worst things to ever happen to Eastern Europe and the whole continent in general is the USSR and communism.

 

[Hindustani78]

"The East German JG3 took delivery of its first MiG-29 in 1988, and by 4 October 1990 had 24 on strength, equipping two squadrons. A follow-on batch were on order, but were never delivered. With the re-unification JG3 became Evaluation Wing 29 on 1 April 1991. On 25 July 1991 the decision was taken to keep the aircraft and integrate them into the NATO air defence structure. JG73 was activated in June 1993, and the MiG-29s assumed a National (Day Only) QRA(l) commitment over the former East Germany. The MiG-29s moved to Laage in December 1993 and on 1 February 1994 the unit gained a NATO QRA(l) commitment. The two aircraft on QRA were assigned to NATO, while the rest were assigned to national tasking. All will be NATO assigned when the F-4s move to Laage to complete the wing."


East Germany (DDR) bought 20 MiG-29A and 4 MiG-29UB two seaters just before the all of the Berlin Wall, for the Luftstreitkräfte der NVA (East German Air Force). They entered service in 1988 and 1989. After the German reunification in October 1990 these MiGs were integrated into the Luftwaffe, made NATO-compatible and stationed on Laage Fliegerhorst, with Luftwaffe Jagdgeschwader JG73 “Steinhoff”.

In 2003 22 MiG-29s were sold to the Polish Air Force for a symbolic 1 EUR per Fulcrum, 14 were taken into service with the 41. elt after an overhauled. Of the remaining two German MiGs, one had crashed after a pilot’s fault, and one (the 29+03) is on display at Laage-Rostock airport.