First F-16 fighter jet crosses into Bulgaria as part of larger order for air force

The first US-made F-16 Block 70 fighter jet intended for the Bulgarian Air Force has arrived in the country on April 2 with the remaining jets of the order to be delivered in the upcoming months.

The aircraft landed at Graf Ignatievo Airbase, where it was welcomed by Air Force Commander Major General Nikolay Rusev who was flying a Soviet-made MiG-29, Caliber.Az reports via Bulgarian media.

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov, and Chief of Defense Admiral Emil Eftimov attended the reception. The jet still carries US markings, concealed with temporary stickers, as it has yet to be officially transferred. The formal handover ceremony is set for April 12.

Bulgaria’s first two F-16s include a single-seater D-model and a two-seater C-model. A third jet remains at Lockheed Martin’s US plant in Greenville for the training of the Bulgarian engineering and technical staff.

By the end of 2025, Bulgaria is to receive all eight F-16s from its 2019 contract with the United States, valued at $1.256 billion, covering aircraft, pilot training, and maintenance. A second batch of eight F-16s, worth $1.2 billion, was subsequently ordered in 2021 to bolster air defense. The agreement also included the integration of modern command and control systems that would significantly enhance the operational capabilities of the Bulgarian Air Force.

The F-16s will replace Bulgaria’s aging Soviet-made MiG-29 fleet, aligning with NATO standards. Additionally, two new patrol frigates will arrive in 2025 to enhance Black Sea security, vital for protecting Bulgaria’s trade routes.

By Nazrin Sadigova