site.btaParliamentary Committee for Security Services Control to Hold Hearing on Potential F-16 Security Breach

The Parliamentary Committee for Control of the Security Services will hold a hearing on Thursday in connection with a possible unauthorized access by a hostile force to classified information concerning one of the systems of the F-16 Block 70 fighter jet, according to the agenda published on the National Assembly website. The Committee will also examine concerns of a potential act of sabotage aimed at obstructing the official induction of the aircraft into service with the Bulgarian Air Force.

The Committee will hear from Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov, the head of Bulgaria's State Agency for National Security, Plamen Tonchev, and the Military Intelligence Service Director, Brigadier General Venelin Venev.

Earlier in the week, a political clash erupted 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.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday in Valencia, Spain, Borissov commented: "Radev hinted to the journalists who were travelling with him that one F-16 was out of order and not flying and urged them to ask [Defence Minister Atanas] Zapryanov.” Borissov said he had already told Zapryanov that the Air Force chief must be dismissed if Radev’s claim proved true, asking, “How could anyone agree to buy a broken aircraft for USD 100 million?”

Radev responded that, instead of shifting blame onto pilots and Defence Ministry leaders who “work tirelessly to mitigate political negligence,” Borissov and his government should allocate more funding so the “excellent, combat-capable aircraft” can remain airworthy - though he warned that achieving this would be difficult. According to Radev, Bulgaria had paid a high price for the F-16 fighter jets, but that this was Borissov’s choice in 2019.

On Wednesday, during a briefing on the F-16 Block 70, Air Force Commander Major General Nikolay Rusev said that a deviation in one of the systems of Bulgaria’s first F-16 fighter jet was detected after landing. However, he clarified that this did not mean the aircraft was broken.

Later that day, the Defence Ministry said in a press release that all financial resources for acquiring the F-16 Block 70 aircraft have been secured, including funding for infrastructure development at Graf Ignatievo Air Base, where construction is ongoing. Additionally, the contract includes provisions for the aircraft's lifecycle support and guarantees.