The successful maiden flight of the first Bulgarian F-16 Block 70 was announced by Lockheed Martin on 24 October 2024.
The flight occurred on 22 October at 9:30 am EDT out of Lockheed Martin’s production facility in Greenville, South Carolina, with test pilot Charles ‘Seeker’ Hoag successfully conducting multiple system tests to validate performance and supersonic capabilities during the flight, Lockheed Martin reported.
This aircraft will be the first of 16 F-16 Block 70s to be delivered to Bulgaria, which signed its first letter of acceptance (LOA) for eight F-16s in 2019 and then signed a second LOA for an additional eight jets in 2022.
“The F-16 has proven its ‘21st Century Security’ capabilities time and again,” O J Sanchez, vice president and general manager for the Integrated Fighter Group at Lockheed Martin, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “With the F-16 Block 70, the Bulgarian Air Force will be well equipped to secure its borders and partner with US, European and NATO allies.
“The F-16 was integrated by design from the beginning as a versatile, adaptable and scalable aircraft,” Sanchez added. “Whether it be through air policing or offensive missions if required, the F-16 is strengthening NATO partnerships and will continue to do so for years to come.”
Bulgaria will be the second European country to receive F-16 Block 70s after Slovakia, which received the first two of 14 F-16 Block 70s it has on order on 22 July 2024. Meanwhile, Greece is currently in the process of upgrading 83 F-16C/D Block 52+/52Ms operated by the Hellenic Air Force to the F-16 Viper (F-16V) standard, which equates to the F-16 Block 70.
Lockheed Martin has delivered 15 F-16 Block 70 jets to date, according to a company spokesperson: 10 for Bahrain and five for Slovakia. Lockheed Martin currently has six nations on contract for the aircraft: Bahrain, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Taiwan, Jordan and one undisclosed customer.
The core of the F-16V upgrade is an avionics update consisting of the APG-83 active electronically scanned-array (AESA) fire control radar, a high-resolution centre pedestal display, an upgraded modular mission computer and a new display generator. Additional upgrades can be added per customer requirements, including datalinks, advanced helmet-mounted devices, electronic warfare enhancements, the Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod, an automatic ground collision avoidance system (AGCAS) and additional structural upgrades.
The new-build Block 70/72 aircraft contain this core Viper architecture, other advanced avionics and an extended service-life airframe.
