Lockheed Martin delays Bulgaria’s F-16 deliveries to 2030

Bulgaria’s air force will not receive eight U.S.-made F-16 Block 70 fighter jets before 2030, the country’s Defence Ministry said.

“Lockheed Martin has informed us that difficulties have arisen in the production process for the fighter jets, which will lead to a delay in deliveries of the aircraft to Bulgaria until the second quarter of 2030. This deadline is not final, but the U.S. side will take all necessary steps to accelerate aircraft production,” the ministry said in a statement.

Bulgarian Air Force officials had previously said the new F-16s were expected to enter operational combat duty in the second half of 2026 or in 2027. The second batch of eight fighters had been expected to arrive in Bulgaria by the end of 2027, allowing the Balkan country to establish a full fighter squadron.

The F-16 deliveries are considered crucial for Bulgaria’s air force because the service life of the MiG-29 aircraft currently in its inventory is nearing its end.

By Tamilla Hasanova