Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bulgaria to receive the first F-16 fighter jets at the beginning of 2025

Photo: lockheedmartin.com

The first F-16 fighter jets will arrive at the beginning of 2025, caretaker Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov said for BNT. In the authum of 2024, Bulgarian pilots will be trained in the United States how to fly the aircraft. Next year, Bulgaria will also receive the new Stryker combat vehicles.

According to Minister Zapryanov, the modernization of the army is underway, and people see the future with new aircraft, combat vehicles, and ships. In his words, increasing the salaries of military personnel is an important but insufficient tool.

"Now the responsibility lies with the political leadership of the Ministry of Defense and the military command to develop other mechanisms to make the military profession attractive", Atanas Zapryanov said.

Understaffing is most concerning in the Land Forces, and in particular in our main combat brigades, which, according to NATO's new requirements, must maintain a high level of readiness, Atanas Zapryanov went on to say.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Georgi Ivanov (R) and Nikolai Rukavishnikov.

46 years ago today: Georgi Ivanov became the first Bulgarian cosmonaut

On this day 46 years ago, Georgi Ivanov made history as the first Bulgarian to go into space.   On 10 April 1979, at 20:34 Moscow time, the Soyuz-33 spacecraft was launched into orbit with Georgi Ivanov and Soviet commander Nikolai Rukavishnikov on..

published on 4/10/25 1:29 PM
Kostadin Kostadinov

MECH files vote of no confidence in the government

The MECH party is filing a motion of no confidence against the government, the leader of Vazrazhdane, Kostadin Kostadinov said on the sidelines of the National Assembly. The MP said that it was organized by his political force, which..

published on 4/10/25 11:25 AM

Maximum speed on highways to become 130 km/h

Drivers should drive with a maximum speed of 130 km/h on highways, which is ten less than the current permitted speed, MPs of the parliamentary Committee on Transport decided, adopting the amendments to the Road Traffic Act at first..

published on 4/10/25 9:36 AM