site.btaUS Charge d'Affairs Highlights Expanding, Intensifying of Bilateral Cooperation with Bulgaria

The Charge d'Affaires ad interim at the US Embassy in Sofia, Susan Falatko,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) on Sunday. She stressed that the cooperation between Bulgaria and the US is expanding and intensifying, especially in terms of partnership with the Air Force.

She added that the F-16 programme shows a long-term stable commitment that will not only strengthen relations between the two countries, but also those with NATO allies.

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.