Minister Zapryanov departs for the U.S. for the acceptance of Bulgaria's first F-16 Block 70 fighter jet

Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov is departing today for a three-day visit to the United States. He will attend the official handover ceremony of Bulgaria's first F-16 Block 70 aircraft, scheduled for January 31, 2025, at Lockheed Martin's manufacturing facility in Greenville, South Carolina.

This aircraft is the first of 16 new fighters that Bulgaria will receive under two contracts signed in 2019 and 2022. The first two planes are expected to arrive in Bulgaria in April 2025.

The Bulgarian delegation includes Deputy Defense Minister Adelina Nikolova, Deputy Chief of Defense Lieutenant General Krasimir Kanev, Air Force Commander Major General Dimitar Petrov, and Director of the Armament Policy Directorate Colonel Vladislav Shekerov. Also attending the ceremony in Greenville will be Bulgaria's Ambassador to the U.S., Georgi Panayotov, and Military Attaché Colonel Ivan Bogdanov.

In the presence of Lockheed Martin's leadership, members of the U.S. Congress and Senate, officials from the U.S. Department of Defense and Air Force, as well as local authorities from South Carolina, the Bulgarian F-16 Block 70 will be officially handed over to Bulgaria.

During the visit, Lockheed Martin's leadership will showcase the capabilities of their Greenville production facility to the Bulgarian delegation.Minister Zapryanov will also meet with Bulgarian Air Force personnel currently training there, as well as with representatives from the U.S. Department of Defense and Air Force overseeing the aircraft delivery.