Bulgaria Receives First F-16 Fighter Jet January 31

Bulgaria is set to officially receive its first F-16 Block 70 fighter jet from Lockheed Martin at a ceremony in South Carolina on January 31, 2025. This event marks a significant step in Bulgaria's modernization efforts for its Air Force, as the country is acquiring a total of 16 advanced F-16s under contracts signed in 2019 and 2022. Bulgarian Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov will lead a high-level delegation for the handover, which signifies a deeper integration of Eastern European nations into NATO's airpower infrastructure amidst rising tensions with Russia. Following this initial delivery, two more jets are expected to arrive in Bulgaria by April 2025, with ongoing training programs for Bulgarian pilots and ground crews in the U.S. Lockheed Martin will also showcase its production capabilities to the Bulgarian delegation during this visit, underscoring the collaboration between the U.S. and Bulgaria in defense matters. This transition to F-16s marks a major shift from Bulgaria's reliance on Russian-made aircraft for over 75 years.