U.S. tactical fighters begin training in Bulgaria

U.S. F-15 Eagle tactical fighters of the Louisiana Air National Guard on Monday began training flights in Bulgarian airspace within the joint exercise Thracian Eagle 2015, officials said.

During the drill, the U.S. pilots, together with Bulgarian MiG-29 fighters, Su-25 ground-support aircraft and Cube and Wasp anti-aircraft missile complexes, will perform tasks such as air fights and anti-aircraft missile defense of the critical infrastructure of the Balkan country, the Bulgarian Defense Ministry said in a press release.

The purpose of Thracian Eagle 2015 was to achieve a high interoperability of the Bulgarian army, raise the theoretical, tactical, special and flight preparedness of the staff, and improve the procedures for comprehensive logistics support, the ministry said.

Last year, during the joint flight training Thracian Eagle 2014, 12 U.S. aircraft joined the Bulgarian Air Force to temporarily guard Bulgaria's airspace under the integrated NATO air defense system.

The U.S. aircraft conducted limited missions that consisted of duties in the air, visual identification and accompanying. Endit