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Archive Cooperative Key 2003

Cooperative Key 2003 Graf Ignatievo (Bulgaria)

For the second time after 2001 Bulgaria hosted a Cooperative Key exercise as a part of NATO's Partnership for Peace Programme. The exercise took place from September 1 to 13 at Graf Ignatievo and Krumovo air bases near Plovdiv. More than 1000 participants from 20 countries with about 70 airplanes trained multinational cooperation.

After the retirement of the MiG-23 and the temporary grounding of the MiG-29 fleet due to the lack of spare parts at the moment the MiG-21bis is the sole active fighter aircraft of the Bulgarian Air Force.
A Swedish pilot gets a look inside the MiG-21bis cockpit.
Romania sent two LanceR C and one LanceR B twin-seater.

What else could be seen ...

Due to the absence of the MiG-29 and the Su-22 (of the latter only one aircraft is said to be airworthy), the Bulgarian participation was rather limited compared to 2001.

Su-25 - unimpressive in the air ...
... but impressive on the ground.
L-39 with fuel tanks are a rare sight.
Four French Mirage 2000N took part in the exercise.