Though the jets are destined for Eastern Europe, their construction has been an employment boon for Lockheed Martin’s operations in South Carolina, where they are manufactured.
The capabilities of Bulgaria’s and Slovakia’s air forces will soon be significantly enhanced, as the two NATO member nations are set to receive the final deliveries of the F-16 Block 70 fighters from aerospace giant Lockheed Martin. Those aircraft were manufactured at the firm’s Greenville, South Carolina, facility under a United States Foreign Military Sales contract.
On Wednesday, Lockheed Martin announced it had completed production of the batch of F-16 Fighting Falcons for the two nations, with deliveries scheduled for early 2026. It will allow Bulgaria and Slovakia to continue modernizing their respective fleets of combat aircraft. Both former Communist Bloc countries are retiring their aging Soviet-era Mikoyan MiG-29s (NATO reporting name “Fulcrum”) and aligning their respective air forces with NATO standards.
The F-16’s “common framework” will improve readiness and strengthen “the alliance’s posture” while increasing “the number of interoperable aircraft available for NATO missions,” Lockheed Martin announced.
“This milestone represents the talent and dedication of the joint government, military, and industry teams,” said Mike Shoemaker, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Integrated Fighter Group. “With full F‑16 Block 70 fleets now produced, both nations move from planning for next‑generation airpower to demonstrating it in daily operations. This progress enhances NATO’s collective readiness and provides commanders with reliable, interoperable 21st Century Security capability across the alliance.”
About the F-16 Block 70 Fighter Jet
- Year Introduced: 2023
- Number built: ~23
- Length: 49.3 ft (15 m)
- Wingspan: 31 ft (9.45 m)
- Height: Approximately 16.7 ft (5.1 m)
- Weight (MTOW): Approximately 48,000lbs (21,772kg)
- Engines: One Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 afterburning turbofan
- Top Speed: ~1,500 mph (2,414 km/h) / Mach 2.0
- Range: ~1,740 nmi (2,000 miles, 3,220 km)
- Service Ceiling: ~50,000 ft (15,240 m)
- Loadout: Internal six-barrel M61A1 Vulcan 20mm cannon; nine hardpoints, including six under wings, two on the wingtips, and one under the fuselage; two additional locations under the fuselage for pods.
- Crew: 1–2, depending on variant
The F-16 Block 70 Fighting Falcons are equipped with advanced avionics, extended structural service life, and enhanced safety features such as the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS), with a structural service life of 12,000 hours. In addition, the fighters are outfitted with the APG‑83 AESA radar, which shares 95% software commonality and 70% hardware commonality with the F‑35 radar.
The F-16s are also part of a global supply chain that includes more than 530 suppliers in a dozen countries, with a “strong network of European partners,” the aerospace firm noted. That includes LOTN in Slovakia and Avioman in Bulgaria, which each contributed to the aircraft’s production.
The New F-16s Are Now Bound for Europe
Lockheed Martin delivered the first F-16 Block 70 aircraft to Slovakia in July 2024. Part of a total order for 14 advanced multirole fighters; it marked a significant step in modernizing the Slovak Air Force. Bulgaria subsequently received the first of eight Block 70 fighters in January 2025, with the aircraft then arriving at Graf Ignatievo Air Base in April.
Sofia’s order was soon expanded to 16 Fighting Falcons.
The multirole F-16 represents a substantial upgrade to Slovakia’s and Bulgaria’s defense capabilities, as the aircraft can perform air policing, defensive counter-air, and precision-strike missions using a broad spectrum of NATO-standard air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions.
There are now more than 700 F-16s operating in Europe, with more than 3,100 in service worldwide. With the delivery of the Bulgarian and Slovakian aircraft, Lockheed Martin has continued to work through its backlog of 114 F-16 Block 70/72 jets now being produced in Greenville. Approximately three dozen of the advanced Fighting Falcons have been delivered to international partners.
Final assembling and other component manufacturing continue to be completed in Greenville, supporting more than 1,500 skilled jobs in the Palmetto State.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Shutterstock / Peter R Foster IDMA.
