Lockheed Martin contracted to deliver F-16s to Bulgaria

Lockheed Martin has been awarded USD512 million to deliver eight F-16V Block 70 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft to Bulgaria.

The F-16V is the latest variant of the Fighting Falcon, and will replace the ageing MiG-29 in Bulgarian service. (Lockheed Martin)

The Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract, announced by the US Department of Defense (DoD) on 2 April, includes USD4.2 million of unspecified pre-priced options, and will run through to 31 January 2027.

The award, which is understood not to include engines, is part of a total F-16V procurement and support package for Bulgaria that will be valued at approximately USD1.3 billion. As the aircraft are listed as being Block 70 rather than Block 70/72, they will be single-seaters. As such, pilot training will likely take place on US Air Force or other NATO twin-seat aircraft.

With the first F-16V set to enter service in 2023, the Bulgarian Air Force (BuAF) will be in a position to retire its ageing MiG-29 ‘Fulcrum’ fighters, only about four of which are believed to still be serviceable.

As the most up-to-date version of the Fighting Falcon, the F-16V features the Northrop Grumman AN/APG-83 active electronically scanned array radar (derived from the F-16E/F Block 60 AN/APG-80 and also known as the Scalable Agile Beam Radar), a new Raytheon mission computer, the Link 16 datalink, modern cockpit displays, an enhanced electronic warfare system, and a ground-collision avoidance system.