First flight Bulgarian Air Force F-16C Block 70
On 22 October 2024, the first F-16C destined for the Bulgarski Voenno Vzdushni Sili (BVVS, Bulgarian Air Force) made its inaugural flight from Donaldson Field Airport, Greenville (SC) with serial 311 (c/n MW-01).
During the flight several system tests were successfully performed to verify the operational and supersonic capabilities of the aircraft.
The Bulgarian Air Force signed the first order for eight Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 fighter aircraft in July 2019. This was followed by a second order for eight aircraft in April 2022. The contracts, valued at USD 2,2 billion, include related equipment like spare engines, missiles, bombs and Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars. The sixteen F-16s are divided in ten F-16C Block 70 and six F-16D Block 70 Fighting Falcons.
Caretaker, Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said earlier this year “In 2025, we expect our new F-16 combat platform to be battle ready. It’s expected that we have eight F-16s and fourteen trained pilots by the end of next year”.
Credit photo: Brady Ensley