On January 31, the Bulgarian Air Force officially began the process of incorporating its new F-16 Block 70 fighters, intended to replace its aging MiG-29 combat aircraft. This was marked by a ceremony held at Lockheed Martin’s facilities in Greenville, South Carolina, where the official presentation and handover of the first two-seat aircraft, numbered “301,” took place. The event was attended by Bulgaria’s Minister of Defense, Atanas Zapryanov, as part of an official visit to the United States.
A few days prior, through a series of images and videos that began circulating widely, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense showcased preparations for the reception of the first F-16 Block 70 fighter manufactured by Lockheed Martin for the Bulgarian Air Force. This is the first of a total of sixteen (16) aircraft acquired in two batches by Bulgaria from the United States, intended to replace the outdated MiG-29s.
During his speech, the Minister of Defense expressed his satisfaction and gratitude to all those involved in the F-16 Block 70 Program for Bulgaria, stating: “Over the years, the strategic partnership with the United States and cooperation in the field of defense have significantly strengthened not only our own security but also the security in the Black Sea region and on NATO’s eastern flank.”
He added: “We are proud that, day by day, Bulgarian and U.S. military personnel, in military training centers and U.S. bases, both in Bulgaria and in NATO missions and operations, are improving their qualifications and combat readiness, strengthening their mutual cooperation, and thus building the new foundations of security and defense for our countries in the face of current challenges.”
In light of the contracts and agreements reached with the United States and Lockheed Martin, the provision of the 16 combat aircraft is complemented by new simulators, weapons, and munitions. Regarding the training of new pilots, it was officially confirmed that a total of 32 Bulgarian Air Force pilots will be trained in the United States, with 14 in the first phase of the program and 18 in the second phase.
It was also confirmed that, in addition to aircraft “311,” previously seen during an official visit to the Lockheed Martin factory and featured in the first test and evaluation flights, Lockheed Martin has completed the production of the second aircraft of the program, a two-seater numbered “301.” While the Ministry of Defense has shown caution, their official social media channels indicated that the arrival of the first two F-16 Vipers in Bulgaria is expected by late March or early April, with the exact date to be confirmed.
With the delivery of the first aircraft, the Bulgarian Air Force joins a growing club of users of the latest versions of the F-16. Deliveries of the first Block 70 units have already been confirmed for the air forces of Bahrain and Slovakia, while modernization programs are progressing for other forces, such as Greece and Taiwan, the latter having completed the upgrade of more than one hundred Block 15 aircraft.
Lastly, within the broader context of the Eastern European country’s armed forces, Bulgaria is pursuing a military modernization program. In addition to the Vipers, this includes the purchase of new radars and IRIS-T SLM air defense systems from Germany, as well as new Javelin anti-tank missiles and 138 Stryker 8×8 armored vehicles from the United States.
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