The acquisition of F-16 fighter jets - the largest and most expensive modernisation project of the Bulgarian Air Force

The programme for the purchase of the F-16 Block 70 fighter jets is the largest and most expensive project for the modernisation of the Bulgarian Air Force. Work began in 2019 and has continued so far. Using funds from both the national budget and NATO's Security Investment Program, crucial infrastructure has been built at Graf Ignatievo Air Base, where the new jets will be maintained, serviced, and used for various missions to protect Bulgarian airspace and participate in NATO’s collective defence plans.

The decision to select the F-16 Block 70 as the new multirole fighter for the Bulgarian Air Force became a billion-dollar deal between the governments of Bulgaria and the USA. The first international contract for purchasing eight fighter jets was signed on July 11, 2019, by the then-Minister of Defence, Alexander Karakachanov, and two weeks later, it was ratified and passed into law by the 44th National Assembly.

In 2019, the Bulgarian government, under the third Borissov cabinet, paid $1.3 billion (approximately 2.2 billion BGN at the time) for the production and acquisition of the eight F-16 Block 70 jets. Besides the aircraft, the package includes pilot and aviation engineer training, logistics, support equipment, and military technology.

The first F-16 aircraft were initially scheduled for delivery to Bulgaria by mid-2023, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the deadline was extended by almost two years. In the meantime, Bulgarian pilots have started training in the USA.

Bulgaria will buy 8 more F-16 fighter jets from USA

Bulgarian pilot, Alexander Velinov, completed the first solo flight on an F-16 in the USA:

"The handling of the F-16 is significantly easier, allowing the pilot to fully focus on the combat capabilities of the aircraft and use it as a weapon."

At the end of 2022, the caretaker government led by Galab Donev approved a contract for a second batch of new F-16 Block 70 jets, costing around 2.5 billion BGN. During the parliamentary ratification, there was sharp debate over whether Bulgaria should order another eight jets before receiving the first batch that had already been paid for in advance. The vote settled the issue, with 152 MPs supporting the deal. Bulgarian pilots and technical staff continued their training in the USA, looking forward to flying the F-16s in Bulgaria soon.

Todor Todorov, a Bulgarian pilot, said: "This is a milestone we’ve been waiting for a long time—the acquisition of a new aircraft. It's something we've been waiting for since we were in the military academy, so it's truly a dream come true."

Graf Ignatievo Air Base will host the new fighter jets, along with the maintenance crews and flight teams. The modernisation of the base infrastructure is a key element of operational readiness, and various modernisation projects are currently underway.

President met Bulgarian pilots who will be trained to fly F-16 military aircraft

In the summer of 2024, the newly extended runway and its taxiways received certification. In early February, a commission from the USA is expected to arrive at Graf Ignatievo Air Base to certify the infrastructure. Construction continues on hangars, shelters for the jets, and storage for classified materials. However, replacing the old aviation equipment with the new F-16 jets will not be a quick process, said the base commander.

Brigadier General Nikolay Rusev, Commander of the 3rd Air Base "Graf Ignatievo" (September 12, 2024): "Even with the arrival of the F-16s, it's impossible for them to immediately go into active service. It will take at least two years. Until we replace the MiG-29 with something else, the MiG-29 will continue to fly, and we will maintain it as long as we can."

Currently, 12 Bulgarian pilots are training in the United States to fly the F-16. By December 2024, two of them had already completed their basis training course. By April 2025, when the first two F-16s are scheduled to arrive in Bulgaria, the number of fully trained pilots could increase to five. By the end of 2025, when all the jets from the first Bulgarian squadron of F-16s are expected to produced, it is anticipated that nine pilots will be ready to fly them.

Photos by BTA/archive