Bulgaria has taken delivery of its first F-16 Block 70 multirole fighter jet, which landed at Graf Ignatievo Air Base near Plovdiv on April 2. The event marked a key milestone in the country’s efforts to modernize its air force. A ceremony was held to mark the arrival, attended by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov, and senior military officials.
Bulgaria initially ordered eight F-16C/D Block 70 aircraft in 2019 through the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The delivery schedule was delayed due to factors including the COVID-19 pandemic, and the full batch is now expected to be completed by the end of 2025. A second order for another eight aircraft is planned for delivery between 2026 and 2027, enabling Bulgaria to form a full squadron of Western-made fighter jets.
During the ceremony, Prime Minister Zhelyazkov described the aircraft as part of Bulgaria’s broader defense cooperation with the United States, which also includes Stryker infantry vehicles and Javelin anti-tank systems. Defence Minister Zapryanov stated that the remaining seven aircraft, along with nine pilots, are expected to be operational by the end of this year. He also noted that while the jet had arrived, formal procedures for its transfer were still underway, with an official handover scheduled for April 12.
Bulgaria is the third country to begin receiving the F-16 Block 70, following Slovakia and Taiwan. Lockheed Martin is also producing this variant for Morocco, and Jordan is expected to receive units currently in production.
Lockheed Martin has secured orders for 188 units of the Block 70 version to date, with additional potential contracts under discussion. Colombia, Vietnam, and the Philippines are among the countries considering future acquisitions, while Bulgaria and Slovakia may expand their orders in response to regional security developments.
🆕Първият многоцелеви #изтребител на 🇧🇬Военновъздушни сили 𝐅-𝟏𝟔 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝟕𝟎 кацна в 𝟑-а авиационна база в Граф Игнатиево днес.#БългарскаАрмия #ВВС #инвестициивотбраната #F16Block70#StrongerWithAllies 🇧🇬🤝🇺🇸 #StrongerTogether@USEmbassySofia @LockheedMartin pic.twitter.com/w09YFIWb35
— MoD Bulgaria (@BulgariaMod) April 2, 2025