Jim Robinson

The first F-16 Block 70 aircraft for the Bulgarian Air Force will be produced in December 2022, the manufacturer-company Lockheed Martin and the United States Embassy in Bulgaria announced. This aircraft will train Bulgarian pilots.

The F-16 Block 70 fighter will have full combat capabilities, said Lockheed Martin International Business Development Director Jim Robinson.

At a press conference, representatives of the US company and the US Embassy in Bulgaria gave details about the production, delivery, capabilities of the aircraft, as well as the benefits to Bulgaria of the strategic partnership.

Lockheed Martin will open a base for maintenance, partial and complete renovation (MRO facility) in Bulgaria, said Jim Robinson, "International Business Development for the F-16 in the US company. This means that Bulgarian aircraft can be maintained in Bulgaria by local engineers and technicians throughout the duration of their 12,000 hours of flight hours.

This will happen if the delivery contract is signed by the summer, reported NOVA TV. 
By four years, Bulgaria will be able to get the first two F-16 fighters if the delivery contract is signed by the summer. This was explained by the US martial aircraft manufacturer.

In June 2018 Bulgarian Parliament approved a plan to spend around $2 billion on its Air Force modernization. It planned to purchase 16 fighter jets to replace its existing air fleet of MiG-29s.

"A new F-16 is a much better aircraft than all the others available," Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov said on December 14.