Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

President Rumen Radev co-pilots F-16, praises the aircraft's capabilities

Photo: BGNES

President Rumen Radev was co-pilot in an F-16 fighter piloted by an Italian pilot. The demonstration flight from the Graf Ignatyevo airbase lasted 40 minutes. 

"The F-16 flight took me back to 2005, when General Clark, then a captain, and I flew such a fighter. At that time, I was the commander of the Graf Ignatyevo Air Base, and the NATO defence planning process was initiated after our accession," Radev said. 

He recalled that thanks to cooperation with the US, "we have mastered many modern tactics, techniques and procedures, we have mastered the full capabilities of the MiG-29 and our pilots are no longer inferior to their American counterparts".  

Radev expressed confidence that the acquisition of the F-16 Block 70 would remove a number of technical limitations for Bulgarian aviation. "In order to fully exploit the capabilities of this wonderful aircraft, we need to continue working with the pilots at Aviano Air Base," Radev added.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

BICA and the Migration Agency of Uzbekistan signed an agreement on labour migration

Bulgarian entrepreneurs arrange the employment of workers from Uzbekistan

The Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA) and the Migration Agency of Uzbekistan have signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of labor migration. The document lays the foundations for a long-term partnership between the two countries..

published on 5/18/25 3:04 PM
Stefan Ivanov

Stefan Ivanov participates in a rowing expedition from Australia to Africa

"The Untamed" is the name of the team comprising four rowers from the boat Rannoch 45 '' Rose'' , who have set off from the western coast of Australia across the Indian Ocean toward Kenya, Africa. On board are Evgeny Sudyr from Ukraine, Liu Yong from..

published on 5/18/25 11:44 AM
Vesela Lecheva

IOC provisionally acknowledges the election of Vessela Lecheva as President of BOC

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has sent an official letter stating that it will provisionally acknowledge the election of Vessela Lecheva as President of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee (BOC). This comes despite legal appeals filed in..

published on 5/18/25 10:48 AM