A successful test flight of the first F-16 Block 70 fighter jet produced for the Bulgarian Air Force was conducted on October 22, 2024 at the production base of "Lockheed Martin" in Greenville, South Carolina, USA, the Ministry of Defence reported on its website. 

During the flight, a large number of system tests were performed to verify the operational and supersonic capabilities of the aircraft. The tested F-16 Block 70 fighter jet is the first of a total of 16 jets that Bulgaria will receive under the two contracts signed in 2019 and 2022, the ministry said.

According to the contract with the manufacturer, Bulgaria is expected to have eight F-16 jets and 14 trained pilots for them by the end of 2025, caretaker Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov said some time ago.