Bulgaria ordered an F-16 5 years ago, but the country has not yet prepared the infrastructure and pilots

In 2019, Bulgaria ordered eight new F-16V Block 70s from the United States, which cost $1.2 billion, along with related weapons. The aircraft are due to arrive in the European country in 2025.

Here's What We Know

In total, Bulgaria has spent $2.5 billion on 16 F-16V Block 70 fighters, the first of which are due to arrive in four months. However, despite five years of waiting, the ground infrastructure, pilots and equipment are not yet ready to receive the new aircraft, as Bulgaria's acting Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov admitted in an interview with Euractiv.

The politician, of course, said that today all efforts are being made to prepare the new Graf Ignatievo airbase, but he recognised the task as a "significant challenge". According to him, pilot training is ongoing, and there is already one instructor and one pilot ready to go.

In 2022, Bulgaria also ordered eight more F-16s for $1.3 billion, with an expected delivery date of 2027. According to the contract, Bulgaria is to train 32 pilots, but so far only 10 have been sent. The Defence Express explained that this number is not enough to achieve the desired level of training by 2025, when there should be two ready-made crews for each aircraft.

Today, the only fighters formally in service with the Bulgarian Air Force are 14 MiG-29s. However, their maintenance leaves much to be desired, as the Russian contractor did not fulfil the contract for their repair, and in 2021, it had to pay a fine. Few people know how many of these aircraft are currently in airworthy condition, let alone combat ready.

However, the situation may not be so catastrophic for Bulgaria's defence capability. Even if the country does not have time to prepare the necessary infrastructure, it will probably be able to negotiate with other NATO countries to temporarily station its aircraft and pilots at their air bases.

Source: Euractiv