Balgarianovinite.com Bulgaria’s Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov and representatives of Lockheed Martin have discussed the implementation of the contract for the second batch of eight F-16 Block 70 fighter jets, the Defence Ministry said. During the talks, the contractor reported production-related difficulties that will delay delivery of the aircraft to Bulgaria until the second quarter of 2030. The US side noted that this deadline is not final and that every effort will be made to accelerate production and enable Bulgaria to receive the aircraft earlier.
“Minimizing the delay as much as possible and ensuring that it does not result in any additional financial burden for the State is of key importance to Bulgaria. We expect assurances that the delay will not affect the final contract price, as well as concrete action to reduce the delays,” Minister Stoyanov said.
Regarding the remaining activities under the contract for the first eight F-16 Block 70 aircraft, Stoyanov said the goal is for them to be deployed for combat duty as early as next year. “As minister, it is important to me to see F-16s flying in Bulgarian skies, to have the necessary spare parts and components to maintain the aircraft, as well as a sufficient number of properly trained pilots,” the Minister said. In this regard, he raised the issue of expanding opportunities for Bulgarian pilots to train at F-16 training centres, as well as ensuring the timely supply of spare parts and components needed to maintain and operate the aircraft. Minister Stoyanov also recalled that Bulgaria had sent an inquiry to the United States regarding the acquisition of used F-16 aircraft to help maintain the required capabilities of the Bulgarian Air Force. “This issue has now become even more important, and we hope to receive the necessary support,” Stoyanov said.
The meeting, held at the Defence Ministry, was also attended by H. Martin McDowell, Charge d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Bulgaria, and Lieutenant Colonel Omar Cavalier, chief of the US Office of Defence Cooperation at the Embassy. Bulgarian Defence Minister, Lockheed Martin Representatives Discuss Delivery of F-16 Block 70s 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-08-14 16:07:44 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law