First F-16 Block 70 Jet Delivered to Bulgaria
Fighter is one of 16 ordered by the country to modernize its air force.
Bulgarian Air Force F-16 Block 70. [Courtesy: Lockheed Martin]
The first of 16 Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets on order has been delivered to the Bulgarian Air Force, the aircraft manufacturer announced.
The fighters are built in Lockheed Martin's facility in Greenville, South Carolina, where the company and Bulgaria's minister of defense marked the delivery with a celebration Friday.
"The F-16 will help the Bulgarian Air Force stay ahead of threats in the region and play a key role in the allied peacekeeping mission in Europe and around the world," Mike Shoemaker, vice president and general manager of the integrated fighter group at Lockheed Martin, said in a statement. "The F-16 has proven its air dominance time and again, and the Block 70 version will give the Bulgarian Air Force a highly capable, combat-proven aircraft."
The company said it has delivered 23 F-16 Block 70/72 jets to international customers and has a backlog of 117 jets to be produced in Greenville.
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!
Get the latest FLYING stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox