Bulgarian Air Force F-16 Block 70 Fighter Completes Maiden Test Flight

The first F-16 Block 70 fighter jet for the Bulgarian Air Force conducted its test flight in the United States on October 22.

The flight took place at the Greenville, South Carolina facility of Lockheed Martin. According to Bulgaria's Ministry of Defense, the test flight went smoothly, with numerous system evaluations confirming the operational and speed capabilities of the fighter.

This F-16 is the first of 16 jets Bulgaria is acquiring through contracts signed in 2019 and 2022. The Block 70/72 variant will replace Bulgaria’s aging fleet of MiG-29 fighters. The second contract, valued at $1.3 billion, includes additional equipment and training packages.

Originally scheduled for 2023-2024, the delivery of these American-made F-16s has been delayed, leading Bulgaria to continue using its MiG-29s after overhauling their engines in Poland. The acquisition of these jets is part of Bulgaria’s effort to enhance its air defense and strengthen interoperability within NATO, particularly on the alliance's eastern flank.

The country has also secured logistical support and weaponry for the F-16s, and will become, alongside Slovakia, one of the primary European operators of the Block 70/72 variant. In a separate modernization effort, Bulgaria received its first overhauled L-39ZA light attack aircraft from Czech company Aero Vodochody in June 2024.