Bulgaria has taken delivery of two additional F-16 Block 70 fighter aircraft, which landed at Graf Ignatievo Air Base near Plovdiv on October 18, according to the Ministry of Defence.
This brings the total number of F-16s received by the Bulgarian Air Force to six out of the eight aircraft ordered under the country’s first contract with the United States. The initial delivery took place on April 2, followed by subsequent arrivals on June 8 and October 3. The remaining two aircraft are expected to be delivered by the end of 2025.
Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov, Air Force Commander Major General Nikolai Rusev, Acting Commander of the Third Air Base Colonel Metodi Orlov, and representatives of the US mission in Bulgaria attended the handover ceremony.
“The process is proceeding according to the agreed plans with the US government – the first four aircraft have already been received, now two more, and we have until the end of this year to receive the last two, which will fulfill the first contract for the supply of eight aircraft,” Zapryanov said.
He added that by early 2026, Bulgaria expects to have completed the first phase of its F-16 program, marking a milestone in its modernization efforts. “On the eve of 2026, we will have one fulfilled contract with the US, which gives optimism that from now on the technological acceptance of the newly arrived aircraft and their flight tests will begin,” he noted.
The Defence Ministry also confirmed that delivery of associated equipment and systems is ongoing. Zapryanov emphasized efforts to accelerate the development of infrastructure at Graf Ignatievo to support pilot training. “Out of 49 infrastructure contracts at the air base, only one had been completed when I took office. We now have 17 accepted within 2024 and 2025, and several more under review,” he said, highlighting progress on facilities including the simulator building for pilot training.
The two newly delivered F-16 Block 70s are single-seat combat variants. They arrived with US Air Force markings and are awaiting technical and flight acceptance procedures.
According to the Defence Ministry, Bulgaria is set to receive all eight aircraft by the end of 2025 under the current agreement. A second agreement will bring the total to 16 aircraft, forming a complete F-16 squadron for the Bulgarian Air Force.
