Lockheed Martin has delivered the first F-16 Block 70 fighter jet to Bulgaria, marking a significant upgrade for the Bulgarian Air Force. The delivery took place on February 3 at Lockheed Martin’s new factory in Greenville, South Carolina. This move is part of Bulgaria’s plan to replace its fleet of Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrums with more advanced aircraft.
The Minister of Defence of Bulgaria, Todor Tagarev, described the acquisition as “a huge project and a determined effort towards enhancing the capabilities of our Armed Forces.” Mike Shoemaker from Lockheed Martin emphasized that “the F-16 will help the Bulgarian Air Force stay ahead of threats in the region and play a key role in the allied peacekeeping mission in Europe and around the world.”
The F-16 Block 70 model offers several enhancements over previous versions, including improved avionics and longer range. It is equipped with a General Electric F110-GE-129 turbofan engine, an APG-83 radar, and other advanced features like Auto GCAS and enhanced cockpit displays.
An optional feature for this model is L3Harris’ Viper Shield electronic warfare suite. Ed Zoiss from L3Harris noted that they are ready to continue flight testing and aim to deliver systems by late 2025.
The main difference between Block 70 and Block 72 lies in their engines: Block 70 uses a General Electric engine while Block 72 uses one from Pratt & Whitney.
Bulgaria’s decision to adopt F-16s aligns it with Western military standards, allowing access to shared resources among neighboring countries like Romania and Poland. The transition signifies not only an upgrade in airpower but also strengthens strategic ties with allies such as the United States.
