News item | 16-05-2022 | 17:26
The F-35s that guard and possibly defend the eastern flank of the NATO alliance are in demand, it turns out. The devices have already been alerted several times. This is because of threatening situations in the direction of NATO treaty area. Bulgaria therefore wants the fighters to stay longer. In addition, it has a deterrent effect.
The agreement is that the F-35 pilots will carry out their duties as ‘air surveillance’ until the end of May. According to Prime Minister Mark Rutte, there is talk of an extension, but he does not estimate the chance of this being very great.
“It is difficult because of our limitation at the Ministry of Defense,” he said today during a visit to the Dutch military in Bulgaria. Rutte was there together with Commander of the Armed Forces General Onno Eichelsheim. The Dutch fighter pilots mainly perform their tasks together, but also with Bulgarian colleagues. They operate with the MiG-29.
Russians everywhere
“The Russians are flying all over the Black Sea,” says one of the F-35 pilots, but according to him, NATO allies are not being challenged. The Dutch pilot believes that the Russians are fully focused on the war in Ukraine.
The Air Force has 4 F-35s and about 100 soldiers stationed in the Bulgarian Graf Ignatievo. Of the 4 devices, 2 can be used continuously. Both others are spare. The air force detachment is commanded by NATO.