Between
1963 and 1990 the Bulgarian AF took delivery of 226 MiG-21 Fishbeds from ten
different variants (and even more sub-sub-sub-variants). Today the MiG-21
continues to be the most numerous air-defence fighter in the BVVS. Many MiG-21F-13,
-PF, -PFM, -R, -M, -MF, -U and -US have been withdrawn in the past decade.
A large number of those older airframes had to be scrapped due to CFE-agreements.
Currently 3 IAB at Graf Ignatievo, in the heart of Bulgaria flies the MiG-21bis
and MiG-21UM variants. With no immediate successor in sight it seems the Fishbeds
will take to Bulgaria's sky for some years to come.....fortunately!!
