Bulgarian Tactical Air Force in 1973




	Bulgarian Air Defence and Air Force’s Tactical Air Units in January 1, 1973

	In 1970, the Bulgarian Air Defence and Air Force air regiments organization were redesigned. Previously the regiment consisted of three squadrons, each with 12 combat aircraft. From 1970 onwards, the regiments consisted of two fighter and fighter-bomber squadrons. Each squadron used an average of 18 combat aircraft.


	19th Fighter Air Regiment’s MiG-21M Fishbed-J fighter. Source: pan.bg Retrospotters


	The 10th Composite Air Corps bought two new variants of MiG-21s in the late sixties. The 19th Fighter Air Regiment got 15 pieces of MiG-21M Fishbed-J and the 26th Air Reconnaissance Regiment got six MiG-21R Fishbed-H variant.

The Bulgarian Air Force’s tactical fighter units in the early seventies.

Bulgarian Air Force’s 22nd Fighter Bomber Aviation Regiment MiG-17 Fresco at Bezmer

In addition to the old, slow MiG-15 and IL-28 reconnaissance aircraft a new more modern type was required. Therefore in 1969 six MiG-21R model arrived from the Soviet Union. For recce missions, the MiG-21R could carry a Type D daylight PHOTINT pod, a Type N nighttime PHOTINT pod, a Type R general-purpose ELINT pod or a Type T pod housing a TV system, making the MiG-21R one of the first Soviet recce aircraft to make use of ELINT equipment.
In addition to the small number of MiG-21R Fishbed-H, they received additional MiG-21F-13 Fishbed-C type from Graf Ignatievo. These early MiG-21s were used as a training machines equipped with AFA-39 reconnaissance camera.


	Bulagrian MiG-21R Fished-H with reco pod. source: pan.bg Retrospotters




		Bulgarian IL-28R Beagle reconnaissance aircraft. Source: pan.bg Retrospotters




		26th Air Reconnaissance Regiment’s old MiG-15bisR Fagot-B type. Source: pan.bg Retrospotters


	The transport helicopter flying forces were reinforced with ten Mi-8T Hip-C and two Mi-8P Hip-C medium transport helicopter starting from 1969. They also received Mi-2 Hoplite type for educational purposes. The old Mi-4 Hound were merged into two squadrons. In addition to the green colored Mi-8 Hip, new Mi-2 Hoplite trainer aircraft arrived from Poland.




		Bulgarian Air Force received ten Mi-8T Hip-C transport helicopters. Source: pan.bg Retrospotters




		44th Helicopter Air Regiment’s Mi-8T medium helicopter. Source: pan.bg Retrospotters


	Photos: pan.bg Retrospotters

Tags:
Bulgarian Air Force, VVS, Cold War, Warsaw Pact, 10th Composite Air Corps, Plovdiv, 19th Fighter Air Regiment, Graf Ignatievo, MiG-21M Fishbed-J, MiG-19PM Farmer-E, MiG-19S Farmer-C, 21st Fighter Air Regiment, Uzundzhovo, MiG-17F Fresco-C, MiG-17PF Fresco-D, 22nd Fighter Bomber Air Regiment, Bezmer, MiG-17 Fresco-A, 25th Fighter Bomber Air Regiment, Cheshnegirovo, MiG-17 Fresco-A, 44th Helicopter Air Regiment, Plovdiv, Krumovo, Mi-4 Hound, Mi-8T Hip-C, Mi-2 Hoplite, 16th Transport Air Regiment, Dobroslavtzi, IL-14 Crate, An-24 Coke, Li-2 Cab, 26th Reconnaissance Air Regiment, Dobrich, MiG-15bisR Fagot-B, MiG-15bis Fagot-B, IL-28R Beagle, IL-28 Beagle, MiG-21R Fishbed-H, MiG-21F-13 Fishbed-C

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