🇧🇬 Graf Ignatievo Air Base

Graf Ignatievo Air Base (ICAO: LBPG) is a military air base operated by the Bulgarian Air Force, located near the village of Graf Ignatievo, approximately 10 kilometers north of Plovdiv, Bulgaria. It is Bulgaria's sole remaining air defense fighter base and has been central to the development of Bulgarian fighter aviation since its establishment as the 19th Fighter Aviation Regiment on March 17, 1951, marking the introduction of jet aviation in the country.

Historically, the base played a crucial role during the Cold War as part of Bulgaria's air defense system and the Warsaw Pact, conducting the country's first night training flights, supersonic flight, and live-fire exercises. It housed various MiG aircraft, including the MiG-19 and MiG-21, with pilots undergoing operational conversion courses for these jets. After Bulgaria's accession to NATO in 2004, Graf Ignatievo Air Base became actively involved in air policing missions and joint exercises with allied nations.

Currently, the base is undergoing extensive modernization to accommodate the new F-16 Block 70 fighter aircraft. Over 234 million leva (excluding VAT) has been allocated for urgent construction and installation contracts, including the construction of 16 aircraft shelters, maneuvering areas, taxiways, and service roads. The first F-16s are expected to arrive in late March and April, with the initial batch of eight scheduled for delivery by the end of September. An additional eight F-16s are anticipated by the end of 2027. The base has a single asphalt runway, 08/26, measuring 2,992 meters (9,816 ft).

*Sources researched: en.wikipedia.org, novinite.com, bnrnews.bg, ourairports.com, plevnapatriot.com*