SOFIA, March 15 (Xinhua) -- A joint airdrop exercise involving Bulgarian units and U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft kicked off on Wednesday near Plovdiv, some 150 km southeast of Bulgaria's capital city.
Daytime and nighttime training and combat parachute jumps are to be performed during the nine-day drill codenamed Thracian Spring 2017, the Bulgarian defense ministry said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Bulgarian and U.S. aircraft would perform tactical low altitude flights, transportation of troops and cargo, and delivery of humanitarian aid, the statement said.
This joint training would contribute to improving the operational capabilities of the participating units, the ministry said.
Meanwhile, Bulgarian troops would enhance their tactical skills and share experiences on the implementation of tasks, techniques, and procedures in order to improve their interoperability with NATO standards, it said.
The drill is carried out under the plan for the joint Bulgarian-American training and exercises in Bulgaria and abroad for 2017, the ministry added.
Bulgaria, a NATO member since 2004, signed a defense cooperation agreement with the United States in 2006.
