site.btaF-16 Fighter Jets Will Achieve Operational Readiness in 2028, MiG-29 to be Used Until Then, Defence Minister

Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov told members of the parliamentary Defence Committee on Friday that the F-16 Block 70 fighter jets are scheduled to achieve operational readiness in 2028. 

Zapryanov said that if the country wants national resources for airspace protection, it will have to maintain the MiG-29 fighters that it currently has. The Minister added that achieving readiness in 2026 is not realistic. The Commander of the Air Force will decide if the F-16s achieve initial operational readiness and if they can be used for combat duty. Zapryanov also added that he hopes the last two F-16 aircraft under Bulgaria's 2019 contract with Lockheed Martin will arrive in December.

The Minister noted that Poland is already beginning to experience difficulties maintaining its fleet of MiG-29s. "When there is no forward thinking, the result is keeping the MiG-29 for so long and delaying the conclusion of a contract for a NATO aircraft," the Minister commented.

On November 11, Zapryanov announced that the projected costs for operating the Bulgaria Air Force's MiG-29 and Su-25 aircraft in 2026 are a total of just over BGN 114 million.

Bulgaria has already received six out of the eight F-16 fighter jets under the 2019 contract. After the second contract is implemented, the Air Force will have a squadron of 16 aircraft.

The Minister reiterated that all projects under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument must be completed by December 31, 2030. At the end of July, the Council of Ministers approved an expression of interest containing a list of priority investment projects for Bulgaria.

He stressed that whether Bulgaria will acquire up to two Spartan aircraft depends on the available financial resources when the final price of delivering ammunition for 155 mm howitzers is determined. 

In early September, the European Commission approved a preliminary allocation of EUR 150 billion in financial aid to bolster the EU's defense readiness. The programme allocates nearly EUR 3,27 billion to Bulgaria.

The Minister of Defence announced that memoranda are in the works with Belgium and the Netherlands for seven ships that the two countries will donate to Bulgaria. The first ship is expected to arrive next year. Zapryanov also mentioned that cuts to civilian staff at the Ministry of Defence are being prepared due to their high numbers.