BULGARIA'S UPGRADED FROGFOOTS

摘要

Alexander Mladenov looks at the recently refurbished and upgraded Su-25 attack aircraft that are earmarked to continue in Bulgarian service through to at least 2028. The Frogfoot, widely known as an ugly, sturdy aircraft for hauling heavy war loads, has been seriously underrated in Bulgarian service over the last two decades. That is all now changing with the type being given a new lease of life after a comprehensive refurbishment and life-extension program. Combined with a substantial flight/navigation and mission avionics upgrade, it will be kept relevant as per the needs of the Bulgarian Air Force (BuAF - Bulgarski Voennovazdushni Sili). Today, Bulgaria is the only NATO member fielding the Soviet-era armor-protected twin-engine attack aircraft, and the BuAF fleet development plans call for continuing the operations with the type into the late 2020s. This is something no one would have imagined when the Cold War ended in 1991.