Gara Dulovo Airfield

The closure was a direct result of the massive military downsizing and strategic restructuring of the Bulgarian Armed Forces following the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact. As a reserve dispersal airfield, its role became obsolete in the new geopolitical landscape, and it was deemed economically unviable to maintain.

The airfield is completely abandoned and non-operational. The concrete runways and taxiways are still visible but are in a state of severe decay, with extensive cracking and vegetation overgrowth. A significant portion of the airfield, including large sections of the former runways and aprons, has been repurposed and is now occupied by a large-scale photovoltaic (solar) power plant. The remaining land is used for agriculture, and some of the derelict buildings may be used for local agricultural storage.

Gara Dulovo Airfield was a strategic military airbase built during the Cold War. Its primary function was to serve as a 'Zapasno Letishte' (Reserve Airfield) for the Bulgarian Air Force. It was not a permanently manned base but was kept in a state of readiness to act as a dispersal field for fighter aircraft, primarily from the main airbases of Dobrich and Balchik. In the event of an attack, aircraft (such as MiG-21 and MiG-23 fighters) would be moved to Dulovo to ensure their survivability and continue operations. The base featured two robust concrete runways (approximately 2000-2500 meters long) and basic infrastructure to support temporary combat operations.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Gara Dulovo Airfield for aviation purposes. The construction of the extensive solar park directly on the former operational surfaces makes any future conversion back to an airfield extremely unlikely and financially prohibitive.