The widespread absurd and speculative assessments regarding the acceptance of the F-16 aircraft have reached the end of their cynicism by accusing the personnel who are trained and accepting the aircraft of sabotage. This was commented by the Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov, quoted by Nova TV. It became clear that the problem with the F-16 is hardware, and the Bulgarian units did not have access to the machine's software to leak data.
„A technical problem has turned into a domestic and foreign political one, with a political dividend. And unfortunately, this started at the highest level in the country - from President Rumen Radev, his advisors, political leaders of other forces. These people know best that these are technical problems that happen daily in the Bulgarian Army,” he added.
The minister explained that there are technical failures in other aviation assets - airplanes and helicopters. The case with the F-16 was the same.
„The contract that we have concluded with the US government is being implemented. Regarding the deviation found, a block has already been determined, which will have to be transported to Bulgaria. The functionality that has been found will be restored in a short time,”, specified Zapryanov.
He emphasized that it is very tendentious and incorrect to interpret that Bulgarian technicians are working on the technical defect of the aircraft or its testing. „There is nothing like that. There are American pilots here. There are technicians from Lockheed Martin who will stay for three years, there are technicians from the US Air Force who will stay for at least one year”, the minister explained.
The process of handing over the aircraft is being carried out jointly by the American specialists and the Bulgarian ones. Therefore, Zapryanov described as absurd the claims that our technical or flight crew did anything wrong to lead to a violation of the parameters of the functioning of the F-16 system.
“If someone wants to use the technical problem that has occurred to worsen relations between Bulgaria and the US, they will not succeed. They are wonderful. We receive a positive response to every inquiry. The reaction is immediate - both at the level of the US Department of Defense and at the level of Lockheed Martin”, said Zapryanov.
The Minister of Defense declared his full confidence in the personnel - technical and flight. In his words, these are servicemen, loyal to the oath, ready to fulfill their duty. “These people do not deserve such treatment and such assessment, especially to be accused of treason. This is cynicism! To use the honor and dignity of servicemen for domestic political attacks - this is cynicism”, he was categorical. Zapryanov said that there should be no doubts about the personnel.
Chief of Defense Adm. Emil Eftimov stated that they will withstand all challenges, no matter how difficult. “There will be challenges in the modernization of the Air Force, the Land Forces, but this is a complex technological process that requires efforts at all levels. I believe in the personnel”, he concluded.
The Commander of the Air Force Nikolay Rusev defined as extremely unworthy and unacceptable the insults addressed to his colleagues, “who are at the airbase around the clock to build the new infrastructure for the reception of the new aircraft”. “I believe in my people and I sincerely hope that when we get out of this situation and prove that this is absolute slander, someone will hold these people accountable”, he demanded.
Rusev announced that the F-16 will fly soon and assured that the problem with the aircraft is not software, but hardware. No software was stolen, because there was no access to it.
“If you have a technical problem in a block, this block must be repaired. In this case, it will be replaced with a new one”, the Minister of Defense explained the problem. The part will be delivered by the USA, and Bulgaria will not pay for it.
The problem was identified by the pilot of the plane. All failures and the specific one that became the subject of comments were detected in the air. After landing, American and Bulgarian technicians checked the systems of the F-16, which has not yet been accepted, and the problem was confirmed.
When asked if there was sabotage, Zapryanov was categorical: “This is absurd, absurd! The Americans must have sabotaged it, because they technically surrender the plane to us. This is just a fabrication and it is insulting for intelligent people to come up with such nonsense. It is even more regrettable for any intelligent person to believe such nonsense”.