First Fighter Squadron

First Fighter Squadron is a basic combat unit of Graf Ignatievo Air Force Base. Exceptionally wealthy historical heritage and experience handed to generations with combination of high-speed and effective aircraft ensures successful execution of large scale tasks.

Main Tasks:

Peace - time tasks of the squadron:
   to ensure air integrity of the Republic of Bulgaria;
   to render assistance to crews in disaster;
   training of air crews in compliance with NATO standards.

Wartime tasks of 1st Fighter Squadron:
    destroying enemy air assault assets ;
    conducting air combat in order to achieve air superiority ;
    destroying enemy reconnassance and attack aircraft in order to protect military units and important areas;
    supporting other aviation branches.
The additional tasks are air reconnaissance and destroying of small-sized mobile sea and ground targets.

The roots of 1^st FAS could be traced back to the great number of reorganizations of AF to the first independent air units. The squadron is established with the formation of 19^th FR in 1951.

The squadron has been carrying 24-hours combat duty since 20.01.1954. According to its combat account the shot down reconnaissance balloons are seven and there is one destroyed reconnaissance aircraft. The squadron is the first in Bulgaria which participated in an international exercise of NATO abroad with single-seaters in 1998. It has participated in two bilateral and three major international NATO exercises since then.

The legendary MiG-21 became part of the squadron at the end of 1963. Since then the squadron has been priority rearmed with the most modern modifications. The latest serial modification of MiG-21BIS is operational nowadays. The aircraft is a classical second generation frontline fighter. Its general functions are air combat in all weather conditions and in the entire Height and Speed range, reconnaissance and attack on ground targets. Its maximal speed is 1300 km/h or M=2,05. The aircraft ceiling is 18 000 m. The aircraft is armed with 23 mm cannon, semi-active homing missiles, infrared homing missiles, unguided rockets and bombs.