The first F-16 fighter, Block 70, is due to land in Bulgaria on April 2 under the contract our country signed with "Lockheed Martin", dariknews.bg reported.
The aircraft was presented in February at an official ceremony in South Carolina.
The fighter is expected to fly the entire distance to Graf Ignatievo airbase under its own power, with refueling in the air. And the airbase is ready to receive it, although repairs there are ongoing.
The official presentation of the new combat aircraft will be on April 12.
This is the first of a total of 16 new fighters that Bulgaria will receive in fulfillment of the two contracts signed in 2019 and 2022, respectively.
"The first two F-16 Block 70 aircraft for Bulgaria will arrive in late March-April, the second three in the middle of the year, and the next three in late September. That is, eight aircraft should arrive this year,", said Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov in early February.