Aircraft

PICTURE: Bulgaria's first refurbished MiG-29 fighter re-enters service

By Alexander Mladenov

The Bulgarian air force's first of 16 refurbished RSK MiG-29 fighters re-entered service on 29 November, following a successful check flight conducted at Graf Ignatievo air base.

Bulgaria's 12 single-seat MiG-29s and four two-seat trainers will have their service lives extended to 4,000 flight hours or 40 years under a $48 million refurbishment and life-extension project awarded to prime contractor RSK MiG in March 2006.

© Alexander Mladenov

Bulgaria's Terem also assists in the work, which is performed at Graf Ignatievo. Six more aircraft will enter service by March 2008, with the remainder to follow within a further 12 months.