Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      A Bulgarian air force Aero L-39 Albatros takes off during exercise Thracian Viper 20, Sept. 23, 2020, at Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria. Thracian Viper 20 is a multilateral training exercise with the Bulgarian air force, aimed to increase operational capacity, capability and interoperability with Bulgaria. Successful partnering activities like this result in progressive relationships and lead to tangible, mutual benefits during peacetime, contingencies and crisis, through actions such as regional security, access and coalition operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ericka A. Woolever)Triple Nickel fly with Bulagarian air force
                        
                        
                        A Bulgarian air force Aero L-39 Albatros takes off during exercise Thracian Viper 20, Sept. 23, 2020, at Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria. Thracian Viper 20 is a multilateral training exercise with the Bulgarian air force, aimed to increase operational capacity, capability and interoperability with Bulgaria. Successful partnering activities like this result in progressive relationships and lead to tangible, mutual benefits during peacetime, contingencies and crisis, through actions such as regional security, access and coalition operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ericka A. Woolever)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy, participates in exercise Thracian Viper 20 at Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria, Sept. 23, 2020. Thracian Viper 20 is a multilateral training exercise with the Bulgarian air force, aimed to increase operational capacity, capability and interoperability with Bulgaria. Exercises like this enhance their ability to rapidly deploy to a remote location, establish command and control and deliver lethal airpower more effectively and efficiently anywhere in the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ericka A. Woolever)Triple Nickel fly with Bulagarian air force
                        
                        
                        A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy, participates in exercise Thracian Viper 20 at Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria, Sept. 23, 2020. Thracian Viper 20 is a multilateral training exercise with the Bulgarian air force, aimed to increase operational capacity, capability and interoperability with Bulgaria. Exercises like this enhance their ability to rapidly deploy to a remote location, establish command and control and deliver lethal airpower more effectively and efficiently anywhere in the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ericka A. Woolever)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Herro Mustaf, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Bulgaria, left center, and Admiral Eftimov, Bulgarian chief of defense, right center, pose with the U.S. Air Force and Bulgarian air force pilots for a photo in front of a U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon during Thracian Viper 20 at Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria, Sept. 24, 2020. Thracian Viper 20 is a multilateral training exercise with the Bulgarian air force, aimed to increase operational capacity, capability and interoperability with Bulgaria. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ericka A. Woolever)U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Bulgaria visits during Thracian Viper 20
                        
                        
                        Herro Mustaf, U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Bulgaria, left center, and Admiral Eftimov, Bulgarian chief of defense, right center, pose with U.S. Air Force and Bulgarian air force pilots for a photo in front of a U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon during Thracian Viper 20 at Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria, Sept. 24, 2020. Thracian Viper 20 is a multilateral training exercise with the Bulgarian air force, aimed to increase operational capacity, capability and interoperability with Bulgaria. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ericka A. Woolever)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Rumen Radev, president of Bulgaria, left, receives a Triple Nickel squadron patch from two U.S. Air Force pilots assigned to the 555th Fighter Squadron during Thracian Viper 20 at Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria, Sept. 24, 2020. Thracian Viper 20 is a multilateral training exercise with the Bulgarian air force, aimed to increase operational capacity, capability and interoperability with Bulgaria. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ericka A. Woolever)U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Bulgaria visits during Thracian Viper 20
                        
                        
                        Rumen Radev, president of Bulgaria, left, receives a Triple Nickel squadron patch from two U.S. Air Force pilots assigned to the 555th Fighter Squadron during Thracian Viper 20 at Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria, Sept. 24, 2020. Thracian Viper 20 is a multilateral training exercise with the Bulgarian air force, aimed to increase operational capacity, capability and interoperability with Bulgaria. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ericka A. Woolever)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

It’s a wrap: Thracian Viper 2020Published Sept. 28, 2020
                    
                    By Airman 1st Class Ericka A. Woolever
                    
                    
                    31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
            **GRAF IGNATIEVO AIR BASE, Bulgaria (AFNS) --**Airmen and U.S. Air Force **F-16 Fighting Falcons** assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing, **Aviano Air Base**, Italy, and Airmen assigned to the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, 86th Airlift Wing, **Ramstein Air Base**, Germany, participated in Thracian Viper 20, a multilateral training exercise with the Bulgarian air force at Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria, Sept. 21 to 25.
During the exercise, U.S. and Bulgarian air forces conducted air-to-air training with Bulgarian MiG-29s and air-to-surface training with Bulgarian Air Defense assets to enhance their ability to rapidly deploy to remote locations and take command and control of the region.
“Thracian Viper is the Bulgarian flag-level exercise, where we integrated with our NATO partners, to include Romanian and Greek air forces,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Alexander Lodge, 555th Fighter Squadron pilot.
Participation in multinational exercises enhances the U.S. Air Force’s professional relationships, and improves overall coordination with allies and partner militaries during times of crisis.
“The exercise is important because it gives us the opportunity to strengthen our relationship with Bulgaria and NATO,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Brian G. Lewis, 555th FS director of operations. “We are able to share our knowledge and understand the complexities with working with another nation. Additionally, we are learning how to take a limited amount of people to an unfamiliar location and conduct flying operations.”
Exercises such as Thracian Viper 20 provide both U.S. Airmen and Bulgarian forces an opportunity to extend joint warfighting capability through operational and tactical training. Successful partnering activities like this result in progressive relationships and lead to tangible, mutual benefits during peacetime, contingencies and crisis, through actions such as regional security, access and coalition operations.
This exercise required all levels of a squadron to deploy small teams of Airmen and aircraft for a short amount of time to hone their skills and deliver lethal airpower more effectively and efficiently anywhere in the world.
“This is awesome for Airmen because it gives them the opportunity to practice what they have been training for and work with other units across the base,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Terrence Ashton, 555th FS intelligence analyst.
Thracian Viper 20 provided an opportunity for the 555th FS to build interoperability, share tactics and test the squadron’s ability to rapidly forward deploy, sustain operations, and work in coordination with our partners and allies. The exercise also offered a chance for the 31st FW Airmen to train and sharpen operational and tactical skills.
“Heritage, respect and precision are all words I have harped on over the years and it’s why I am always working to improve and set new standards for myself,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Travis Martinez, 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron dedicated crew chief. “Exercises like Thracian Viper give me the opportunity to show up ‘world famous’ but leave ‘highly respected’.”LR 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



Thracian Viper 20 



Thracian Viper 



NATO 



Bulgarian MiG-29 



Aviano Air Base 



435th Air Ground Operations Wing 



F-16 Fighting Falcon 



86th Airlift Wing 



Ramstein Air Base 



Graf Ignatievo Air Base 



31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil