site.btaMinister Zapryanov Says 2025 Will Be Particularly Fruitful for Bulgaria's Defence

Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov described Saturday as an exceptional day for the Bulgarian Air Force as the arrival of the first Bulgarian F-16 aircraft marks the beginning of the process of technological rearmament. He took part in the official welcoming ceremony for the first Bulgarian F-16 Block 70 fighter aircraft at the Graf Ignatievo Third Air Base (South Central Bulgaria).

This aircraft is the first step in the direction of the long-awaited change, Zapryanov pointed out. This year will be particularly fruitful for Bulgarian defence because, in addition to the new aircraft, the country will receive new Stryker armoured vehicles for the Armed Forces and the second of the new patrol ships for Navy, the Minister added.

"I will do my best so that 2025 will be remembered with contracts for the acquisition of other modern key systems and platforms for our and the Union's defence, for which I will count on strong support from the Government and the National Assembly," he further said.

“In 2019, the government headed by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Defence Minister Karakachanov had the political courage to take this decision so that we could receive this wonderful machine today, celebrate its acceptance and look forward to the next aircraft,” Zapryanov added.

The first F-16 Block 70 fighter for the Bulgarian Air Force landed at Graf Ignatievo on April 2 after leaving the Lockheed Martin plants on March 31. It is a two-seat trainer-and-combat plane. It will go into operation after its technical and aerial acceptance by the Bulgarian Air Force.

The fighter is part of an initial batch of eight F-16 Block 70 jets whose delivery will be completed by the end of 2025. Another eight such fighters will arrive by the close of 2027 to add up to a full squadron.