site.btaDefence Minister Zapryanov: F-16 Aircraft Cleared for Service, Next One's Delivery Expected

“The F-16 aircraft is operationally sound,” said Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov, speaking to reporters in Parliament on Wednesday.

He confirmed that the technical acceptance of the aircraft is ongoing and that flight acceptance procedures will begin soon. “Technical acceptance involves testing all systems. Once that is completed, Bulgarian pilots will fly alongside American instructors, after which the aircraft will be officially accepted for flight and commissioned into service,” Zapryanov explained.

Minister Zapryanov participated in a closed-door hearing of the Parliamentary Committee for Control of the Security Services, the Application and Use of the Special Intelligence Means and the Data Access under the Electronic Communications Act. Also present were Plamen Tonchev, Chair of the State Agency for National Security (SANS), and Sergey Valev, Deputy Director of the Defence Intelligence Service.

The Committee convened to discuss concerns over a possible unauthorized access by a hostile foreign entity to classified information related to one of the systems on the F-16 Block 70 aircraft. The inquiry also considered the possibility of sabotage aimed at preventing the official commissioning of the fighter jet by the Bulgarian Air Force.

“Since the session was held behind closed doors, I can only say that I presented a detailed report on the technical event, the measures taken, and the actions of both the technical and flight teams. There are no concerns regarding our pilots or the safeguarding of sensitive information,” emphasized Minister Zapryanov.

When asked about the delivery of the next F-16 Block 70 aircraft, the Minister responded: “We expect it to be scheduled for ferry flight any moment now. The aircraft has been ready and waiting for some time.”

A political clash erupted a couple of weeks ago between Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and former prime minister and leader of the GERB political party, Boyko Borissov, over the country's procurement of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets. The dispute intensified following reports of system malfunctions in the newly delivered aircraft, raising concerns about the readiness of Bulgaria's defence infrastructure.  Borissov and Radev have periodically traded barbs over this.