[16/11/2024 01:34]

DOLNA MITROPOLIYA-SABA
2024-11-16
Bulgaria will receive eight F-16 Block 70 fighters in 2025, caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said in the northern town of Dolna Mitropoliya. The first two fighters are expected to arrive in late March or early April.

"We should be ready to start training people for the F-16," Zapryanov said, adding that all the pilots assigned for training have been sent to do so. "Some failed to make it and came back, their training continues. We already have a flight instructor. I hope we will have enough pilots when the first eight aircraft arrive," the Minister said.

Zapryanov also noted the importance of the infrastructure specific to F-16. "We must immediately proceed to combat training; if the pilots do not fly for a certain time, we will have to bring them back for retraining. Because of this we are also in a hurry with infrastructure, this is a big challenge," Zapryanov explained.

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