Lockheed Martin postponed the delivery of eight F-16 Block 70 fighter jets to Bulgaria. The company set a new delivery timeline for the second quarter of 2030. This replaces the original 2027 deadline. Production problems caused the three-year setback.
The delay affects a defense contract valued at $1.3 billion. This agreement includes a total of 16 aircraft.
Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov stated the government will not accept additional costs. Bulgaria is requesting second-hand F-16s from the U.S. to bridge the resulting capability gap. The government is working to minimize the impact of the postponement on its air force operations.