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

MoD Atanas Zapryanov: First eight F-16s to arrive next year

Photo: BTA

Bulgaria will receive the first eight of the contracted sixteen F-16 Block 70 aircraft next year, caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov announced in Dolna Mitropolia. Two aircraft will arrive at the end of March and the remaining six at the end of September.

The minister said he hoped that by the time the first eight F-16s are delivered, the Bulgarian Army would have trained pilots to fly the fighter jets.

"We should be ready to start training people for the F-16s. All the pilots who are to be part of the programme are in training," Atanas Zapryanov was quoted as saying. He also stressed the importance of infrastructure, which he described as a major challenge.

The Minister of War visited the Georgi Benkovski Air Force Academy, where an augmented virtual reality system was inaugurated, enabling full-scale study of the F-16 Block 70 aircraft.



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

Delyan Peevski

''DPS – New Beginning'' urges that local taxes remain unchanged in 2026

“I call on all representatives of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms in local government — mayors and municipal councilors — to ensure security and predictability for the people and to take the necessary steps to keep all local taxes and fees..

published on 11/25/25 10:02 AM

Bulgaria rises in global digital quality of life ranking

Bulgaria has climbed to 11th place in this year’s Digital Quality of Life 2025 (DQL) index published by Surfshark, up from 18th last year, BTA reported. The index evaluates countries’ digital well-being across five dimensions: fixed broadband..

published on 11/25/25 9:45 AM
Todor Chobanov

Bulgaria expects the return of over 2,700 antiques from abroad

Around 90% of the antiques seized during an international operation targeting a cultural property trafficking network will be returned to Bulgaria, Deputy Minister of Culture Todor Chobanov told “Nova TV”.   “This is an unprecedented operation in..

published on 11/25/25 9:22 AM