Against the backdrop of the official visit of Bulgaria’s Minister of Defense to the United States, it was announced that Lockheed Martin is preparing for the official presentation and delivery of the first F-16 Block 70 fighter to the Bulgarian Air Force. A series of photographs released by the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense showcased the progress in completing the first combat aircraft, which now features the characteristic gray paint scheme, the national roundel on its fuselage, and the number “311”.

In 2019, after receiving the necessary authorization from the U.S. Department of State, Bulgaria confirmed the purchase of an initial batch of eight (8) new F-16 Block 70 fighters from Lockheed Martin to replace its aging Mikoyan MiG-29s. Subsequently, the procurement program was expanded with the execution of an additional purchase option for another eight (8) Viper aircraft.

With agreements and contracts finalized, Lockheed Martin was awarded the corresponding production contracts for Bulgaria’s Block 70 fighters in September, with manufacturing starting at its facility in Greenville, South Carolina, in early 2024. Currently, the integration program for the new F-16s into the Bulgarian Air Force consists of two phases, each covering the production of the aforementioned batches of eight aircraft.

By the end of October, the U.S. company confirmed the start of test flights for the Bulgarian Viper to evaluate the performance of various avionics systems and key operational parameters. The aircraft, piloted by test pilot Charles “Seeker” Hoag, successfully completed its maiden flight.

Recently, it was confirmed that Bulgaria’s Minister of Defense, Atanas Zapryanov, made an official visit to the United States, with part of his itinerary including a visit to Lockheed Martin’s Greenville facility. During his tour, he inspected the first aircraft that will soon be delivered to the Bulgarian Air Force and met with Bulgarian technical and engineering personnel undergoing training with the country’s new combat platform.

Lastly, although Lockheed Martin has not provided further details, it is expected that the presentation of Bulgaria’s first F-16 is imminent, marking the start of the aircraft delivery schedule, which will, of course, include pilot training programs in the United States.

Photos: Ministry of Defense of Bulgaria.