Second Bulgarian F-16 Block 70 Aircraft Arrives at Graf Ignatievo Air Base

The second F-16 Block 70 aircraft for Bulgaria landed at the Third Air Base in Graf Ignatievo at 15:26 local time today, marking another step in the country’s modernization of its air combat capabilities.

The newly delivered single-seat combat aircraft, tail number 313, was welcomed during an official ceremony attended by Chief of Defense Admiral Emil Eftimov, Air Force Commander Major General Nikolay Rusev, Acting Commander of the Third Air Base Colonel Metodi Orlov, and other personnel from the base.

“The process of accepting the new F-16 Block 70 platform into our Air Force and the Bulgarian Army continues successfully,” said Admiral Eftimov. “Welcome to our second new combat aircraft, which arrived at the Third Air Base today. We continue with the acceptance and mastering of the new aircraft. The goal remains unchanged – to receive all eight F-16s under the first contract this year. We are working hard to achieve initial operational capabilities in real terms.”