Bulgaria Marks Arrival of Its First F-16 Block 70 Jet

The Bulgarian Ministry of Defence, in collaboration with Lockheed Martin, officially marked the arrival of the first F-16 Block 70 in Bulgaria on Sunday, signifying the commencement of F-16 operations within the country. Introducing F-16 Block 70 fighter jets will enhance Bulgaria's ability to safeguard its airspace and bolster security cooperation among European allies.

Mike Shoemaker, vice president and general manager of the Integrated Fighter Group at Lockheed Martin, emphasized during the ceremony, “This is not just a celebration of a new aircraft for the Bulgarian Air Force - it represents a new era of enhanced security, advanced capabilities and strengthened partnerships in the region. Lockheed Martin has been proud to serve as a bridge between the United States and Bulgaria as we work together to achieve peace through strength around the globe.”

The F-16 Block 70 jets are outfitted with the Northrop Grumman APG-83 AESA Radar, state-of-the-art avionics, an extended structural service life of 12,000 hours, and essential safety features such as the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS). Since its implementation in the U.S. Air Force in late 2014, the Auto GCAS has been pivotal in rescuing 13 pilots across 12 F-16 incidents, highlighting the aircraft's exceptional safety and performance standards.

Bulgaria's newly acquired F-16 aircraft become part of a global network comprising over 700 F-16s currently operational in Europe and more than 3,100 worldwide. Lockheed Martin has a production backlog of 114 F-16 Block 70/72 jets, which are being manufactured in Greenville, South Carolina. To date, 26 jets have been delivered to international partners.

The Block 70/72 boasts an industry-leading extended structural life of 12,000 hours, exceeding the previous production F-16 aircraft by over 50 percent. This ensures a highly reliable and easily maintainable jet with a service life of at least 40 years for most air forces, with no anticipated need for extensive structural repairs during its entire lifespan. Additionally, the conformal fuel tanks enhance fuel capacity and range without compromising the jet's aerodynamic performance, complemented by an improved performance engine.

Lockheed Martin boasts over 36 years of experience in weapon integration with the F-16, establishing it as one of the most versatile multirole fighters available. This level of expertise in weapons integration is unmatched. In collaboration with the U.S. Air Force and numerous F-16 Foreign Military Sales customers, Lockheed Martin has certified more than 3,300 carriage and release configurations for over 180 types of weapons and stores.