A fuel leak has been detected on a two-seater F-16 Block 70 aircraft from one of the internal compartments for placing the fuel tanks, and a representative of "Lockheed Martin" (Lockheed Martin) will arrive by the end of September to eliminate the malfunction, stated the Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov in response to a question from the MP from "Vazrazhdane" Tsoncho Ganev. The answer is published on the website of the National Assembly.
The parliamentary question is about the F-16 Block 70 aircraft delivered to the Bulgarian Air Force.
According to the regulatory documents, there is a technical malfunction, which requires taking action to establish the causes and carrying out activities to restore the aircraft to working order, the minister explains.
In order to provide access to the alleged leaky node and establish the cause of the malfunction, the engineering and technical staff from Graf Ignatievo Air Base, together with the field representatives of the American side, have carried out a significant amount of activities on the aircraft. After establishing the probable cause, a report has been prepared. After consultations with the American side, it was specified that a representative of the aircraft manufacturer, "Lockheed Martin", will arrive by the end of September to fix the malfunction, Atanas Zapryanov also stated.
The Air Force regularly holds consultations with the American side, while requests for the supply of additional consumables and materials have been made, the minister noted.
Only two F-16 Block 70 aircraft have been delivered and they do not participate in carrying out combat duty to protect Bulgaria's airspace, Zapryanov also stated.
Bulgaria received the first two F-16 Block 70 fighters in April and June. By the end of 2025, in fulfillment of the 2019 contract, our country should receive a total of eight such aircraft. Our Air Force will have one F-16 Block 70 squadron by the end of 2027, when eight more aircraft are expected to be delivered under the second contract.
The Ministry of Defense is unable to provide specific dates or periods in which the remaining six F-16 Block 70 aircraft will land in Bulgaria, because planning flights from the United States is a complex and lengthy process, Atanas Zapryanov said in early August.