President Rumen Radev noted the need to accelerate the training of the F-16 fighter aircraft, a suitable platform for which could be the Pilatus PC-21 aircraft.
The Head of State met with representatives of the management of the Swiss company Pilatus Aircraft, the press service of the President announced on its website.
Ioannis Papachristofilou – Vice President of the company, presented the capabilities of the Pilatus PC-21 training aircraft produced by them and the opportunities for industrial cooperation with the Bulgarian side.
He pointed out that in addition to the benefits for the training and preparation of Bulgarian pilots, Pilatus Aircraft offers a partnership in terms of technical and logistical support of the aircraft, as well as cooperation with Bulgarian software companies.
The head of state added that the joint partnership with the Swiss company will not only contribute to the modernization of the Bulgarian Army, but will also provide new opportunities for economic cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting was also attended by the Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Bulgaria, Raimund Furer.
Bulgaria received the first two F-16 Block 70 fighters in April and June, BTA recalls. 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 squadron of F-16 Block 70s by the end of 2027, when eight more aircraft are expected to be delivered under the second contract.
The first combat duty of the F-16 will be assumed in 2026 at the earliest, said the Chief of Defense, Admiral Emil Eftimov, in early June. He added that the first aircraft, which arrived in April, is already flying and stressed that there are enough trained pilots to fly the fighters.