Lockheed Martin has handed over the Bulgarian Air Force’s first F-16 Viper in Graf Ignatievo, Maritsa.
The milestone is part of US foreign military sales contracts signed by Sofia in 2019 and 2022 for 16 fourth-generation jets to replace the military’s Soviet-built MiG-29 Fulcrum fleet.
The aircraft’s journey was completed in two phases: first from Greenville, South Carolina, across the Atlantic Ocean to Spain, and then to Bulgaria.
The delivery was carried out in accordance with international aviation law, which required the system to travel from American territory to the Balkan state with the US Air Force insignia. The logo was later replaced after the aircraft touched down in Maritsa.
More Aircraft by 2027
Following the arrival of the initial plane, Bulgaria is set to receive seven more airframes throughout this year. One of these airframes is currently being used in the US to train Bulgarian technicians and engineers in preparation for the full transfer of the fleet.
By the end of 2027, Lockheed Martin is expected to deliver eight more Vipers to the NATO country. Around the same time, the Bulgarian Air Force will form a new squadron to manage and operate the jets.
“For the Air Force, this means a new era in their development,” Bulgarian Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov remarked during the event in Maritsa.
“Our Air Force combat aviation has a future, because they already have a new type of aircraft, which will be in operation in the next 30-40 years. And this, I am convinced, will motivate the personnel to serve with much greater desire and with great prospects.”
Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Viper
The F-16 Viper represents the Block 70/72 variant of Lockheed Martin’s Fighting Falcon model. It is designed with the “most advanced configuration” of the F-16 to counter current threats and match the capabilities of fifth-generation fighter jets.
The aircraft measures 50 feet (15 meters) in length, has a wingspan of 31 feet (9 meters), and is powered by either Pratt & Whitney or General Electric engines.
It carries advanced radar, an electronic warfare suite, multi-domain missiles, mines, guided and unguided munitions, and optional nuclear bombs.
The plane has a range of 2,450 miles (3,942 kilometers), a speed of Mach 2 (1,534 miles/2,470 kilometers per hour), and a service ceiling of 55,000 feet (16,764 meters).
