I have always maintained a balance of good tone in communicating with the presidential institution, but it is trying to behave like a shadow Ministry of Defense. Our department adheres to its constitutional and legal powers and responsibilities. I expect this from Rumen Radev as well. I call on him to stop politicizing a technical problem with the F-16. This was stated by Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov at a briefing regarding the detected malfunction in the first F-16 fighter jet that Bulgaria owns, Nova TV reports.
The mentioned malfunction caused an exchange of sharp remarks and mutual accusations between GERB-SDF leader Boyko Borisov and the head of state, after it became clear that the fighter jet had a technical problem.
"Speculation and politicization of the fighter jet case continue. After a technical malfunction was detected in one of the systems, assistance was immediately requested from the United States to replace the faulty unit. On May 6, we received information that the working unit for the F-16 had been sent, and it is currently already in Bulgaria. After its installation, checks on the technical acceptance of the aircraft will continue, and then a fly-by and flight acceptance will begin. Both contracts for the acquisition of a total of 16 F-16 Block 70 fighters include the necessary supplies of spare parts, consumables and services for F-16 maintenance. These supplies are calculated based on the statistical information provided by the manufacturer, but an unforeseen situation can always arise, especially in the process of initial mastering of the new aircraft", Zapryanov also explained.
Even after the landing of the first Bulgarian F-16, a deviation was detected in the operation of one of the systems, announced the commander of the Air Force Nikolay Rusev. However, he specified that this does not mean that the aircraft is broken.
„The procedure for accepting the aircraft is underway. It is divided into two parts - technical and flight acceptance. The procedure is lengthy and the aircraft has not been accepted. This should be clear. It will be accepted when both procedures are completed. After the technical procedure, a minimum of two flights are performed with the participation of a Bulgarian pilot. After the plane lands and has completed these two flights and the pilot declares that the plane is airworthy, we accept it and it enters service in the Air Force”, added Rusev.
Today, during his hearing in the plenary hall, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov admitted the possibility that the malfunction has already been fixed. "During the flights from the USA to Spain and from Spain to Bulgaria, an indication of a malfunction in a block appeared. An indicator lit up, notifying of some malfunction in some of the accumulators and batteries. After that, the indication disappeared, the plane landed, and was taken to the hangar. "This is a block that is under warranty, has already been ordered, delivered and probably already installed," the Prime Minister said.
The allegations of sabotage or foreign interference in connection with the incident with the F-16 fighter jet received by Bulgaria must be taken seriously and, when raised, must be discussed through the appropriate channels and based on confirmed evidence, the EC stated in its position.
On April 2, the first F-16 Block 70 fighter jet, contracted with the American company Lockheed Martin, arrived in Bulgaria. The aircraft, which was presented in February at an official ceremony in South Carolina, landed at the Graf Ignatievo airbase.