Bulgaria Receives First F-16 Block 70 Fighter Jet from Lockheed Martin
On January 31, 2025, Bulgaria’s Defense Minister, Atanas Zapryanov, attended a handover ceremony at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Greenville, South Carolina, to receive the country’s first F-16 Block 70 fighter jet. This marks a major step in modernizing Bulgaria’s air force as it replaces its aging MiG-29 and Su-25 aircraft. The new F-16 Block 70 will enhance Bulgaria’s defense capabilities and strengthen its role in NATO operations.
Bulgaria is set to receive its first F-16 Block 70 fighter jets by late March or early April 2025. A total of eight jets will be delivered by the end of the year. Eight additional F-16s will arrive under a second contract signed in 2022, with deliveries expected by 2027. The second contract in 2022 expanded the procurement to a full squadron of 16 jets, bringing the total cost to approximately $3 billion.
The F-16 fighter jet has been in service since the late 1970s, originally built as a lightweight air superiority fighter. Over the years, it has evolved into a powerful multirole aircraft with advanced avionics, radar, and weapons systems. The latest F-16 Block 70/72 (F-16V) variant features modern upgrades in avionics, radar, and electronic warfare, enhancing its combat effectiveness and NATO interoperability for 21st-century air missions.
The F-16 Block 70 is a modern multirole fighter jet equipped with the Northrop Grumman AN/APG-83 AESA radar, based on technology from fifth-generation fighters. It features a high-resolution 6×8-inch display, an upgraded mission computer, and the Viper Shield electronic warfare suite for enhanced combat capabilities. It includes an Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto-GCAS) to improve pilot safety. The F-16s have an extended service life of 12,000 flight hours.
The F-16 Block 70 has an empty weight of 9,207 kg and measures 15.03 meters long, 9.45 meters in wingspan, and 5.09 meters in height. It is powered by either the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229EEP or General Electric F110-GE-129 engine, both producing around 29,000 pounds of thrust. The aircraft can reach speeds of over Mach 2, with a combat range of 579 km, an air-to-air mission range of 1,700+ km, and a ferry range of 3,940 km with external fuel tanks.
For firepower, the F-16 Block 70 is armed with a 20mm M61 Vulcan cannon, AIM-120 AMRAAM, and AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. It can also carry GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs (SDBs), making it a highly capable fighter for modern air combat missions.
The handover ceremony underscores the strategic partnership between Bulgaria and the United States, reflecting a shared commitment to regional security and defense collaboration.