Bulgaria, Spain defence ministers inspect air forces

The defense ministers of NATO members Bulgaria and Spain on Monday inspected the joint implementation of air protection tasks by their countries' air forces, amid growing fears over a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.  

Four Spanish Eurofighters and 130 troops will be executing enhanced air policing assignments and air-to-air maneuvers with their Bulgarian allies until the end of March at the Graf Ignatievo air base in central Bulgaria .

The exercises are seen as part of the united efforts of NATO partners to bolster the defense of the Alliance's eastern flank.

Since joining NATO in 2004, Bulgaria has sought to replace its combat air fleet, which consists of a dozen of Soviet-made MIG-29 and another dozen of Sukhoi SU-25 jets, but financial problems have caused repeated delays.