At a meeting in Sofia with representatives of the American corporation Lockheed Martin, President Rumen Radev expressed his expectation that the production and delivery of the F-16 fighter aircraft will be completed on time so that Bulgaria can maintain and develop its own capabilities for the protection of its airspace. Bulgaria continues to look for sustainable solutions to avoid losing its defense capabilities, taking into account the expiration of the MiG-29 fighter jets' flying resources and the delayed delivery of the already purchased F-16 Block 70 fighter jets, President Radev noted.

In 2019, Bulgaria signed a contract for the acquisition of the first 8 F-16 fighter jets and paid nearly USD 1 billion in advance. However, due to supply chain disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the first fighter jets are expected to arrive in Bulgaria no earlier than 2025.