Bulgaria: NATO Air and Missile Defences on Highest Alert Level
Jerusalem, 17 March, 2026 (TPS-IL) -- Sofia (BTA) – NATO’s missile defence has been placed on the highest level of alert, and the readiness of air and missile defence systems across the Eastern Flank has been increased, Bulgaria’s caretaker Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov told reporters on Tuesday. He was speaking during a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of Graf Ignatievo Air Base.
Zapryanov stressed that NATO is not involved in the U.S. and Israeli operation against Iran, and that Eastern Flank member states are not taking part in it.
The Minister noted that Greece had deployed a Patriot battery, which also provides coverage for Bulgarian airspace. Zapryanov added that the Air Policing mission carried out from Graf Ignatievo Air Base is integrated into NATO’s broader air and missile defence system and contributes to the protection of the Alliance’s Eastern Flank.
In addition, elements of Bulgaria’s air defence forces have been placed on heightened alert and are operating alongside those of Greece, Turkey, and Romania.
Zapryanov noted that NATO’s troop training and defence capability-building activities are ongoing, with scheduled exercises — including aviation drills — set to take place in Bulgaria in the near future.
The Minister also commented on the European Union’s SAFE instrument, noting that it will enable the implementation of nine projects, two of which are key for the Air Force.
“Now that we have modern F-16 aircraft, it is not appropriate to rely on an analogue radar system that has only been partially digitized. We need 3D radars for a digital battlefield, as well as a new IRIS-T air defence system,” Zapryanov said. He added that once the extension to the provisional budget bill is adopted and the SAFE mechanism clause is included, the government will be able to sign loan agreements, allowing negotiations with Member States to begin for the delivery of equipment under the nine projects.
Zapryanov added that if that happens, the Air Force is expected to have a completely new fleet by 2030, including a squadron, a brand new NATO-compatible radar system, and a new air defence system.
Zapryanov said that a suspended public procurement procedure for the repair of up to ten MiG-29 engines will be resumed as soon as possible under revised technical specifications. He noted that the aircraft still have sufficient flight hours for the remainder of this year and into the beginning of next year. Their airworthiness must be maintained until 2028 due to delays in the delivery of the second batch of eight F-16 aircraft, he added.
