President Rumen Radev today made a demonstration flight of an F-16 fighter jet at the Graf Ignatievo Air Base at the invitation of the US Air Force. The flight was conducted with Brigadier General Tad Clark, Commander of the 31st Fighter Wing of the US Air Force at Aviano Air Base, Italy. For General Clark's significant contribution to the strategic defence cooperation between Bulgaria and the United States, the Head of State awarded him with a Presidential Badge of Honour.
Speaking to journalists, Rumen Radev highlighted the fruitful cooperation between the Bulgarian and the US Air Forces over the years, as a result of which our pilots have mastered modern tactics, techniques and skills.
In the Head of State's words, with the acquisition of the F-16 Block 70, the challenges and limitations related to the ageing of our aviation equipment will disappear, but the Bulgarian pilots, who are currently being trained in the US, receive only the initial training on the aircraft, which should continue. The President also added that in order to be able to use the full capabilities of this fighter, the fruitful and important for the security of the region cooperation with the Aviano Air Base pilots must continue.
Responding to a question, Rumen Radev stressed that the reconstruction processes currently underway at the airbase have been long needed. The President expressed confidence that the renovation will be carried through to completion so that the Air Force will be able to welcome the new F-16 Block 70 and the pilots and the engineering and maintenance staff will be focused on fully mastering the aircraft's capabilities.