The Minister of Defense for the problem in the F-16: Small hardware, no sabotage
A small technical hardware problem that is used for internal political scandals. Thus, Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov described the established malfunction in the first month of the first F-16 Block 70 fighter from 16.
« It is a matter of very little time to deliver the part, » said Major–Major Nikolay Rusev, commented on a visit to the Base in Ignatievo with the Minister.
Sabotage or not
The scandal of the fighter’s rightfulness was formed on Wednesday, and only on Friday night the Minister of Defense and the team in Ignatievo gave more details. Rusev explained that the problem is on a board and the part has already been ordered. Bulgaria would not pay it because it was included in the signed contract with the US Department of Defense, which in turn, along with Lockheed Martin manufacturer, reacted immediately.
Zapryanov described as « absurd and speculative » rumors of sabotage by the staff who was trained to accept the aircraft.
Military Aviation Commander: F-16 is not broken, there is a deviation in the operation of a system
« No politician or government official, including the Commander -in -Chief, should have doubts in our staff, » he said.
Zapryanov also explained that Bulgarian specialists are currently working with US technicians from the Lockheed Martin aircraft manufacturer. The acceptance process is carried out jointly by the American specialists of the Bulgarian specialists and are « absurd allegations that our composition has done something wrong to lead to a violation of the parameters. »
Due to the technical malfunction, Atanas Atanasov, who is the rotating chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Security Services, convened a meeting of the committee next Thursday (May 8).
Commission will check if there is an unregulated access to enemy force to the F-16 systems
In its publication to the media, the Atlantic Council of Bulgaria expressed criticism of the Ministry of Defense and SANS on a lack of timely and in -depth explanation of the case and the created misinformation and « balloon » on social networks.
The second F-16
In addition to the first aircraft for Bulgaria, the vicissitudes continue with the second – its delivery is planted, and Zapryanov did not give the specific time within which it will arrive.
