Cheshnegirovo Air Base

The air base was closed as part of a major military reform and downsizing of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. This restructuring was driven by the end of the Cold War, significant budget constraints, and Bulgaria's strategic reorientation towards joining NATO (which it did in 2004). The process involved consolidating air force units and closing bases that were deemed operationally redundant or too expensive to maintain. Cheshnegirovo's closure was a strategic decision to optimize the structure of the Bulgarian Air Force.

Since its closure, the air base has been largely abandoned and is in a state of disrepair, though the main runway and taxiways remain largely intact. The site has been used for a variety of purposes. It became a popular, often unsanctioned, venue for car meets and drag racing. More officially, its vast open space has been utilized by the Bulgarian military and NATO allies for large-scale exercises. For instance, during the 'Swift Response 21' exercise, the airfield was used as a major drop zone for U.S. Army paratroopers. In recent years, the ownership of the former base was transferred to the 'National Company Industrial Zones' EAD with the strategic goal of integrating it into the nearby Trakia Economic Zone (TEZ), one of the largest industrial and logistics parks in Eastern Europe. The plan is to redevelop the site into a modern industrial park and logistics hub.

Cheshnegirovo Air Base was one of the most important and modern airfields of the Bulgarian Air Force during the Cold War. It was home to the 21st Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (21-ви изтребително-бомбардировъчен авиополк), which was later reformed into the 21st Air Base (21-ва авиобаза). The base primarily operated ground-attack aircraft, playing a crucial role in the Warsaw Pact's southern flank. Key aircraft stationed here included the Sukhoi Su-22M4/UM3K 'Fitter' and, most notably, the Sukhoi Su-25K/UBK 'Frogfoot' close air support aircraft starting in the mid-1980s. After the end of the Cold War, but before its final closure, the base gained new significance by hosting numerous joint military exercises with NATO forces, particularly the United States Air Force, under the Partnership for Peace program. For example, it hosted exercises like 'Cooperative Key' in the late 1990s and early 2000s, where USAF A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft operated alongside Bulgarian Su-25s, fostering interoperability between the former adversaries.

There are significant and long-standing plans to reactivate the airfield, primarily as a dedicated cargo airport to serve the booming industrial cluster around Plovdiv. The project, often referred to as 'Plovdiv Cargo Airport' or the 'Cheshnegirovo Intermodal Terminal,' aims to leverage the existing 2,500-meter runway and the strategic location within the Trakia Economic Zone. The vision is to create a major logistics hub combining air, road, and nearby rail transport to support the numerous manufacturing plants in the region. While the project has faced numerous administrative and financial delays over the years, it remains a key strategic goal for the Trakia Economic Zone and regional authorities. The plan is not to compete with the nearby Plovdiv Airport (LBPD) for passenger traffic but to specialize in air freight, which is currently underserved in the region. The prospects for reopening are considered high in the medium to long term, contingent on securing investment and final government approvals.