The US and Bulgarian Air Forces have successfully completed Thracian Star 2012, an exercise intended to enhance the relationship and interoperability between Nato allies, at Graf Ignatievo Air Force Base, Bulgaria.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
The bilateral training exercise involved 500 US airmen and 12 F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, as well as Bulgarian MiG-21s, MiG-29 Fulcrum jet fighters, SU-25 aircraft and units of anti-aircraft troops.
During the exercise, pilots from both nations conducted air combat missions with fighter aircraft, tactical interceptions, close air support, and combat manoeuvres.
The allied nation’s pilots also conducted ride-along flights in their counterpart’s jets to gain insight into the differing aircraft capabilities and pilot tactics.
Commander lieutenant colonel Michael Thompson, of 510th Fighter Squadron, said: "As a NATO partner, we could be called upon to fight in a conflict together and knowing how each other trains and fights gives a little bit of insight into how would we integrate, and how would we be interoperable as a combined force."
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataThe US forces worked closely with their counterparts to increase interoperability between pilots, maintainers, joint terminal air controllers, firefighters and security forces through phone systems, radios and mobile devices.
Thracian Star 2012 was held from 17 April to 11 May 2012.
Image: A 510th Fighter Squadron pilot prepares to take-off at Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria, as a part of Thracian Star 2012. Photo: courtesy of the US Air Force.
