(Europa) Luftstreitkräfte Bulgariens

[Schneemann]

Hier ein Beitrag von Sommer '21 zum Status der bulgarischen Su-25.

Ich bin in der aktuellen JET & PROP (Januar 2022) über einen recht interessanten Artikel gestolpert, darin wird unter anderem berichtet, dass die Bulgaren ihre Su-25 endlich begonnen haben upzugraden, auch auf NATO-IFF, und dass sie das ganze Konzept dieses zwar etwas angejahrten, aber immer noch leistungsstarken Erdkämpfers nun doch weiter zu nutzen gedenken; bislang ist die Rede von einer Nutzungsdauer der Su-25 bis mindestens 2028, ggf. aber auch bis Mitte der 2030er Jahre oder darüber hinaus.

Einzig für Stirnrunzeln hat gesorgt, dass die Wartungen und teils auch die Upgrades in Belarus vorgenommen werden...

Upgraded Bulgarian Su-25 Frogfoot

Bulgarian Air Force (Bàlgarski Voenno Vàzdusni Sili) is going on with a modernization and resizing of its fleet after the long period of soviet supplies. [...] Since 2000s Bulgaria had actively tried to modernize its air fleet and many efforts had been faced with the aim of keeping in service the russian made fighter jets. In 2006 Bulgarian Governament signed a contract with Italian Alenia for the supply of three C 27J Spartan to replace the Antonov AN 24 and An 26 in the transport role. [...]

If compared to other Countries such as Poland or Romania, Bulgarian fighters have not undergone an avionics modernization program, and therefore lack NATO standardized comunications, navigation or IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) equipment, meaning they cannot deploy abroad. [...] The Su 25 Frogfoot had always rappresented the spine of Bulgarian ground attack speciality and they are based in Bezmer, in the SouthEast of the Country. It represents a simple, effective and survivable attack workhorse, purposely designed to fly multiple short-range battlefield CAS missions. [...]

In November 2018 the BVVS signed a USD 85.5 million contract for the major overhaul of fourteen Su 25s by the 558th Aviation Repair Plant in Baranovichi, Belarus. Unfortunately the contract was downgraded from fourteen to eight aircraft, six Su 25K single seat and two Su 25 UBK double seat and Bulgaria will decide in the next months if using the option for the further overhaul of other six machines. The recalculated cost for eight aircraft is BGN 41 million (USD 24.3 million). [...] As a result, in 2019, the Bulgarian parliament approved amendments to the national legislation, which allowed the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense to issue a temporary permit for the export of the Su-25s to the Republic of Belarus, where the first aircraft were sent in August 2019. [...]

The contract with Belarus cover even the overhaul of 16 engines R-95Sh with their life extension in other 500 flight hours. Also the weapon systems had been enhanced with the introduction of the possibility of using the 130mm S-13T rockets and even the air-to-air capability had been expanded thanks to the integration of the R-73 (AA-11) Archer highly agile short-range air-to-air missile.

The combination of the new HUD, cockpit displays, weapons computer and navigation/attack system’s digital components increased significantly the accuracy when employing unguided ordnance with visual aiming.

All the upgraded Su 25s shows a new pixel painting scheme with dark green, light green and dark brown. The upgraded jets presents the serial numbers 240, 246, 249, 252, 253 and 254 for the single seat and 002 and 095 for double seat.

https://en.aviation-report.com/upgraded-...-frogfoot/

Schneemann