Low-Flying Planes Over Bulgaria: Army Warning
- Bulgaria is hosting the international air force exercise,European spartan Exercise 2025 (ESE 25),involving personnel and aircraft from multiple European nations.
- The Bulgarian Army issued a warning on September 23, 2025, regarding the presence of large, low-flying aircraft over a meaningful portion of the country.
- Bulgaria is serving as the host nation for the exercise, which will run until October 3, 2025.
European Spartan Exercise 2025: Bulgaria Hosts Large-Scale Air Force Training
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Bulgaria is hosting the international air force exercise,European spartan Exercise 2025 (ESE 25),involving personnel and aircraft from multiple European nations. The exercise, focused on tactical training and interoperability, prompted a nationwide warning about low-flying aircraft.
Exercise Launch and scope
The Bulgarian Army issued a warning on September 23, 2025, regarding the presence of large, low-flying aircraft over a meaningful portion of the country. This coincided with the official opening ceremony of European Spartan Exercise 2025 (ESE 25) at Bezmer Air Base, as reported by BGNES.
Bulgaria is serving as the host nation for the exercise, which will run until October 3, 2025. Participants include air force personnel from Italy, Spain, Greece, and Lithuania. The exercise focuses on executing complex tactical maneuvers in Bulgarian airspace, necessitating the public warning about low-altitude military flights.
Aircraft and Training Focus
This year’s edition of ESE 25 features both the C-27J Spartan aircraft – the exercise’s namesake - and the Spanish casa C-295 transport aircraft. The inclusion of the C-295 expands the scope of training and aims to improve the ability of different air forces to operate together using diverse platforms, according to BGNES.
Colonel Lazarin Lazarov, commander of the Doctrine and Commander of Bezmer Air Base, emphasized the exercise’s holistic approach. He stated the goal is to facilitate learning for pilots,engineers,and technicians,fostering experience exchange among all personnel who utilize the Spartan aircraft across Europe. The training extends beyond flight operations to include significant knowledge sharing between engineering and technical teams.
Interoperability and Engineering Collaboration
A key objective of ESE 25 is to enhance interoperability – the ability of different military forces to work together effectively. This is achieved thru joint training scenarios and the exchange of best practices. The focus on engineering and technical staff highlights the importance of maintaining and supporting the aircraft used in these operations.
The engineering teams will collaborate on all aspects of aircraft readiness and maintenance, ensuring a complete understanding of the platforms and their operational requirements. This collaborative approach is crucial for maintaining a high level of readiness and ensuring the success of future joint operations.