"Bulgarian engineers and technicians, who are training at the Lockheed Martin production base in Greenville, are capable of mastering the aircraft. These are specialists who have the capabilities and are very interested in mastering the training for the maintenance of the new aircraft," said Minister Atanas Zapryanov after the meeting with them, the Ministry of Defense announced.
A day before our country officially received its first multi-role fighter, a delegation led by Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov, which included Deputy Defense Minister Adelina Nikolova, Deputy Chief of Defense Lieutenant General Krasimir Kanev, Air Force Commander Major General Dimitar Petrov, and Director of the Armaments Policy Directorate Colonel Vladislav Shekerov, visited the Lockheed Martin factories.
"The assessment of the American instructors is that our engineers and technicians are doing an excellent job with the training." This is a complex technique and we must do everything possible to keep in the ranks of the Bulgarian Army the new generation of flight and engineering and technical personnel who will operate the new multi-role fighters“, the Minister of Defense was categorical.
He pointed out that the adoption of armament of the new aircraft is a serious change in the combat capabilities of the Air Force, because the F-16 Block 70 is the best multi-role fighter of the fourth generation.
The meetings of the Bulgarian delegation with the management of the American company were focused on the progress of the program for the production of the 16 new aircraft for the Air Force and future cooperation. The Bulgarian delegation inspected the production facilities where the machines are assembled and signed the framework of the fourth fighter for the Bulgarian Air Force. Then they talked with the Bulgarian engineers and technicians. They are undergoing training for the maintenance of the new aircraft. This training is key to the successful integration of the new F-16 Block 70 into the Bulgarian combat aviation.
Bulgaria will receive a total of 16 fighter jets under the two contracts concluded in 2019 and 2022. The first F-16 Block 70 aircraft, produced in fulfillment of the contract signed with the US government in 2019 (Phase 1), will be handed over to our country today at the official ceremony. The first two multi-role fighters are scheduled to arrive in Bulgaria in April this year. The remaining 6 F-16 Block 70 aircraft are expected to arrive from the US to Bulgaria by the end of 2025, and the second 8 (Phase 2) - by the end of 2027. A total of 32 pilots will be trained in the US under the two contracts (14 under the first contract and 18 under the second). The training of the engineering and technical staff has already begun, and it is planned that over 100 specialists from various specialties will be trained in accordance with the schedule for the arrival of the aircraft in Bulgaria.
The F-16 Block 70 is among the most modern combat aircraft in the world, equipped with an innovative active phased array radar, a modernized mission planning computer, advanced pilot displays and a ground collision avoidance system. With these improvements, it provides the speed, flexibility and protection needed for a multi-role aircraft according to the requirements of modern air combat.