Sofia News Agency, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company amazed Bulgaria's public with its two F-16s, veterans of actual combat, and the F-16 super-fighter cockpit demonstrator at the opening of the Fifth International Aviation Festival in Plovdiv.
Bulgaria's Air Force Chief Brigadier-General Simeon Simeonov got to know the abilities of the F-16s.
The general spent almost half an hour in the cockpit of the F-16 talking to the pilot and exploring the aircraft. Photo by Y. Nikolova (SNA)
Lockheed Martin will offer its F-16 super-fighter to Bulgarian government and will participate in the tender on the occasion of the modernization of the national army. Representatives of the company came to Bulgaria for the air show, which has also attracted the attention of many Bulgarian officials and politicians, who also explored F-16 abilities.
The F-16 super-fighter is the choice of 24 countries, 9 of which are European NATO members. More than 4,000 aircrafts have been delivered worldwide from assembly lines in five countries. Bulgaria's neighbors, Greece, Turkey, and Poland have already chosen the F-16, which comes with the full support of the United States Air Force.
The Advanced F-16 features improved avionics, more sensitive sensors, integration of advanced weapons and built-in self-protection systems.
Aircraft are now being produced for Chile, Oman, Poland and Israel all in the Advanced Block 50/52 F-16C/D configuration, which could be offered to Bulgaria.
