site.btaAir Force Commander Major General Rusev: F-16's Technical Glitch Is Hardware, No Software Has Been Leaked

The problem is not software, as is being said, and no software has been leaked, we do not have access to it, the problem is hardware, Air Force Commander Major General Nikolay Rusev told journalists on Friday about the detected deviation in one of the F-16 systems. He participated in a briefing with Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov and Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov after the two met with the airbase personnel at the Third Air Base in Graf Ignatievo.

Zapryanov said that the glitch has been identified and will be fixed promptly. The contract we have signed with the US government is being implemented, Zapryanov stressed.

Rusev stressed that the aircraft had not been accepted yet and anything that failed on it was being delivered by the American side. He said it was a matter of a very short time before that part was delivered and the aircraft was operational. "Immediately after landing, the pilot first reported this problem. This failure was ascertained in the air, because on the screen of the plane information about this thing comes out. After landing, the American and Bulgarian technicians checked the systems and this problem was confirmed," Rusev said in response to a question about whether the problem was detected when the plane arrived in Bulgaria or later.

"I find it extremely undignified and unacceptable the slurs that are being written about colleagues who are at the airbase around the clock to build the new infrastructure to accommodate the new aircraft. I hope that when we come out of this situation and prove that it is a slander, someone will hold these people accountable," said Major General Nikolay Rusev.

The F-16 aircraft is a key element for the modernization and transformation of the Bulgarian army with its capabilities for reconnaissance, surveillance, targeting, air combat and strikes on naval and military targets, Defence Chief Admiral Emil Eftimov said. He said Bulgaria would receive the remaining up to eight aircraft in 2025, with the task of receiving them and starting training as soon as possible.

The existence of a malfunction in a newly delivered F-16 transpired earlier this week as President Radev and former Prime Minister and GERB leader Boyko Borissov clashed over it. Speaking to journalists on Wednesday in Valencia, Spain, Borissov stated: “Radev hinted to the reporters travelling with him that one of the F-16s was out of order and not flying, and urged them to question [Defense Minister Atanas] Zapryanov.” He added that he had already told Zapryanov the Air Force chief should be dismissed if Radev’s claim proved accurate, asking: “How could anyone agree to buy a faulty aircraft for 100 million dollars?” Radev responded that instead of shifting blame to pilots and Defense Ministry officials who “work tirelessly to mitigate political negligence,” Borissov and his government should ensure adequate funding so that the “excellent, combat-capable aircraft” can remain operational—though he warned this would be challenging. He emphasized that Bulgaria paid a high price for the F-16s, a decision made by Borissov’s cabinet in 2019.

During a briefing on April 30 about the F-16 Block 70, Air Force Commander Major General Nikolay Rusev clarified that a deviation in one of the systems of Bulgaria’s first F-16 had been detected after landing. However, he stressed that this did not mean the aircraft was defective.

Later that day, the Defense Ministry issued a press release stating that full financial resources for the F-16 Block 70 acquisition have been secured, including funding for infrastructure development at Graf Ignatievo Air Base, where construction is ongoing. The contract also includes lifecycle support and performance guarantees for the aircraft.