The first Bulgarian F-16 landed exactly at 14:29 at Graf Ignatievo air base on 02.04.2025. The aircraft modification is F-16D block70, with tail number 301. To reach Bulgaria, it took off on March 31st at around 13:00 Bulgarian time from the Lockheed Martin factory airport in Greenville together with two air tankers and two other F-16s destined for Slovakia. After flying over the Atlantic Ocean, the group landed at the Royal Spanish Air Force air base in Moron, where it stayed for a day and with the help of tankers again on April 2 flew to Bulgaria. The official ceremony to welcome the aircraft took place at the base on April 13th in the presence of officials and media.

See more: The first eight F-16