27.10.2024, 09:11
Zitat:Bulgaria's first F-16 makes maiden flighthttps://www.janes.com/osint-insights/def...den-flight
Lockheed Martin has flown the first F-16 Block 70 Fighting Falcon aircraft for Bulgaria at its Greenville facility in South Carolina.
The Bulgarian Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced the milestone, which happened on 22 October. During the event, a single-seat F-16C performed a series of flight characteristic tests before returning to the facility. News of the milestone came 10 months after the build of aircraft MY-01 began at Greenville in January. It is scheduled to be delivered to Bulgaria in 2025.
Bulgaria has eight F-16C/D Block 70 aircraft under an initial contract, with a follow-on contract for eight more with deliveries to commence from 2027. These 16 aircraft will equip the Bulgarian Air Force (BuAF) with a full squadron. Pilot and maintainer training has been taking place in the United States on two gifted Excess Defense Articles F-16Ds.
Schneemann