The new pair joins two other aircraft delivered earlier in the first half of 2025, marking the halfway point of the first contract between Bulgaria and the United States for a total of eight aircraft. “One more two F-16 aircraft are arriving – may they be of benefit to Bulgaria, to the Bulgarian Army, to the Air Force, to the Third Air Base and to all who have devoted themselves to this profession – defenders of the homeland,” said Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov at the reception ceremony.
As with previous deliveries, the jets were flown by American pilots and arrived in Bulgaria bearing United States Air Force markings. The ferry flight included a stopover in the Azores and was supported by USAF Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft providing in-flight refuelling.
“I hope that by the end of the year this activity will become routine for the Air Force. The goal is to have eight F-16 Block 70 aircraft by the end of 2025,” Admiral Eftimov added. He thanked the Air Force command and the Third Air Base for “the care, dedication and responsibility they show in the process of receiving and integrating the new type of combat aircraft into the Bulgarian Army.”
The two newly arrived jets include one single-seat combat aircraft and one two-seat combat-trainer. Technical and flight acceptance procedures will now be carried out by Bulgarian personnel at the Third Air Base to formally integrate the aircraft into service.
“The aircraft is being integrated, several flights have already been carried out with the first two jets, our technicians are working together with their American colleagues from the US Air Force and with representatives of the manufacturing company. I am convinced that the process will proceed more smoothly from now on; every beginning is difficult,” said Admiral Eftimov.
Bulgaria expects to receive four more aircraft by the end of 2025, which will complete the first international contract BU-D-SAB. This will allow the Bulgarian Air Force to form a full squadron of eight aircraft. Under a second agreement, an additional eight F-16 Block 70 fighters are expected to be delivered by the end of 2027.
Deliveries also include spare parts and ground support equipment to ensure a smooth transition to the new platform. “I want to congratulate the commander Major General Nikolay Rusev, because the largest-scale modernisation is taking place in the Air Force – the new aircraft are arriving, we have signed a contract for a surface-to-air missile system and we are working on securing more systems under the SAFE mechanism; we are in the final stage of signing a contract for three-dimensional radars. I would like to see such full-scale modernisation in the other armed forces as well. The way forward is clear and the modernisation of the Bulgarian Armed Forces continues at an unrelenting pace,” Admiral Eftimov stated.
With the current delivery plan, Bulgaria aims to fully integrate the F-16C/D Block 70 fleet into its Air Force structure, establishing a modern and capable fighter squadron. The ongoing partnership with the United States also lays the groundwork for potential future acquisitions, should defence funding increase and the government opt to expand the fleet further.
Source: Bulgarian Ministry of Defence (press release).
