The first 8 F-16 aircraft should arrive in our country by the end of the year, said before the start of the "Balkan Guard 2025" exercise; the Chief of Defense Admiral Emil Eftimov, but did not commit to dates and delivery deadlines, BNR indicated.
The second F-16 fighter has arrived normally at the 3rd air base and all procedures for its acceptance are currently underway., he said:
"Everything is normal, the aircraft landed, was serviced and secured by Bulgarian technicians, which gives me confidence that the process is underway. People gain experience, gain knowledge, work together with American colleagues, but all procedures related to aircraft maintenance and acceptance are carried out by our engineering and technical staff. Of course, we have colleagues with whom we work, but this is a normal process".
"The goal this year is to accept all 8 F-16 aircraft - documentary, administrative, to be under warranty and operational, and we work within real optimal deadlines to achieve initial operational capabilities. The Air Force Command is working quite ambitiously so that, by accepting the aircraft, we can reach these initial operational capabilities and start carrying out combat duty in air defense in real terms next year," Admiral Eftimov pointed out.
Regarding the first F-16, Admiral Eftimov said that it will start carrying out combat duty, perhaps from next year:
"The aircraft is good, it is being serviced, it is flying, so I don't see anything worrying. It has not yet assumed combat duty. As I said, this is a process of accepting the aircraft, of preparation, of achieving initial operational capabilities. It will not be able to assume combat duty this year, but next year at the earliest in real terms. We will see how everything goes so that we can make this smooth transition. The air base and the Air Force command deserve admiration because they are accepting this new platform, maintaining the MiG-29, carrying out combat duties, and making every effort to keep this process going."
"I personally have no doubt about the remaining aircraft that are due to arrive from what I hear from colleagues in the US and from the manufacturing company. The process is being improved more and more, over time some remarks are being eliminated, experience is being gained from all sides.
Today, at the Koren training ground, there will be demonstrations of tactical live-fire exercises - with the participation of ground forces from several countries. The ground forces of the BA, Italy, the USA and Romania are participating in it.