Lockheed Flies First Bulgarian F-16 Block 70 | Aviation Week Network
https://aviationweek.com/themes/custom/particle/dist/app-drupal/assets/awn-logo.svg
This article is published in
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report part of Aviation Week Intelligence
Network (AWIN), and is complimentary through
Nov 01, 2024. For information on becoming an AWIN Member to
access more content like this, click here.
Steve Trimble
October 24, 2024
F-16
Credit: Lockheed Martin
A Bulgaria-bound Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 passed the first flight milestone in Greenville, South Carolina, on Oct. 22, the manufacturer said.
Test Pilot Charles Hoag took off in the GE Aerospace F110-powered F-16C from Lockheed’s five-year-old assembly line, which was transferred from Fort Worth.
Bulgaria becomes the third air force to clear a first flight event for Lockheed F-16 Block 70s, following Bahrain and Slovakia.
The Central European country committed to buy eight F-16s and 2019 and another eight in 2022.
Lockheed plans to deliver the first batch of F-16 Block 70s to Bulgaria in 2025.
Bulgaria signed its first letter of acceptance (LOA) for eight F-16s in 2019 and signed a second LOA for an additional eight jets in 2022. The first ferry cell is planned to arrive in Bulgaria in 2025 to begin operations.
Since delivering the first F-16 Block 70 to Bahrain in March 2023, Lockheed has delivered a total of 15 jets, with 125 now in backlog to several customers, including F-16 Block 72s for Morocco.Â
