Defence & Space

Rafael Reports Record FY2024 Results with 27% Growth in Sales

Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems announced record results for fiscal 2024, with sales increasing 27%.

2025-03-26 | Redakcja | 5 minutes

Thales to provide sonar suite for future Netherlands’ Orka-class submarines

Thales, a long-standing partner of both Naval Group and the Royal Netherlands Navy, will provide a comprehensive suite of high-performance sonar systems…

2025-03-20 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Run-flat inserts – an essential component of modern military wheeled vehicles

For many years, it has been observed that wheeled chassis purchased and operated by the armed forces require additional equipment to enable…

2025-03-07 | Radosław Niesobski | 4 minutes

When Trump Plays with Putin – Europe Must Arm Itself

Donald Trump makes it clear that Europe must defend itself and take care of its own security. It has taken…

2025-02-21 | Sławek Zagórski | 4 minutes

Christening and Launch of Rybitwa – the Fifth Project 258 Minehunter for the Polish Navy

The christening and launch of the minehunter 258/5 took place yesterday, on March 19, 2025, at the Remontowa Shipbuilding shipyard…

2025-03-20 | Przemysław Gurgurewicz | 8 minutes

Meeting at the Polish Ministry of National Defence with the Director of the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA)

A meeting took place in Warsaw between Paweł Bejda, Secretary of State at the Polish Ministry of National Defence, and Emmanuel…

2025-03-19 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Polish Ministry Of National Defense: Quantum key distribution is a breakthrough in the security of state entity communications

A presentation of research findings on the use of quantum key distribution in state communications was held at the Club of…

2025-03-17 | Redakcja | 8 minutes

Curtiss-Wright to support USMC’s Combat Data Network Program

Curtiss-Wright Receives $18 million follow-on order from U.S. Marine Corps to support Combat Data Network Program with Tactical Communications.

2025-03-08 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Bambi Bucket Firefighting Baskets at Verticon 2025

During the Verticon 2025 air show in Dallas, the Canadian company SEI Industries showcased its Bambi Bucket firefighting baskets.

2025-03-17 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

Airbus Helicopters at Verticon 2025

During the Verticon 2025 aviation fair in Dallas, the European company Airbus Helicopters (a part of the Airbus Group) showcased its…

2025-03-17 | Rafał Muczyński | 6 minutes

Rafael Reports Record FY2024 Results with 27% Growth in Sales

Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems announced record results for fiscal 2024, with sales increasing 27%.

2025-03-26 | Redakcja | 5 minutes

Thales to provide sonar suite for future Netherlands’ Orka-class submarines

Thales, a long-standing partner of both Naval Group and the Royal Netherlands Navy, will provide a comprehensive suite of high-performance sonar systems…

2025-03-20 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

FFS-class H135 helicopter simulator for the Polish Air Rescue Service

The Polish Air Rescue Service (LPR) has published information on the launch of a tender for the delivery and installation of…

2025-03-17 | Rafał Muczyński | 4 minutes

Leonardo at Verticon 2025 in Dallas

Italian group Leonardo has announced a series of agreements signed at Verticon 2025, the world’s largest event for the global vertical…

2025-03-13 | Redakcja | 20 minutes

Thales to provide sonar suite for future Netherlands’ Orka-class submarines

Thales, a long-standing partner of both Naval Group and the Royal Netherlands Navy, will provide a comprehensive suite of high-performance sonar systems…

2025-03-20 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Christening and Launch of Rybitwa – the Fifth Project 258 Minehunter for the Polish Navy

The christening and launch of the minehunter 258/5 took place yesterday, on March 19, 2025, at the Remontowa Shipbuilding shipyard…

2025-03-20 | Przemysław Gurgurewicz | 8 minutes

Further Polish-Korean Talks at the Polish Ministry of National Defense

Deputy Minister of National Defense Paweł Bejda met in Warsaw with Hyunki Cho, Deputy Minister of the Defense Acquisition Program…

2025-03-07 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

France is considering deploying Rafale jets with nuclear weapons in Germany

As reported by The Telegraph, after a meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Donald Trump, the Élysée Palace is…

2025-02-26 | Rafał Muczyński | 5 minutes

Thales Alenia Space to develop the navigation system orbiting around the Moon

Thales Alenia Space has signed a contract with Telespazio to design and develop the space segment of the Navigation System and satellite…

2025-03-14 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Cooperation Agreement between Radmor and WiRan

The Gdynia-based companies Radmor and WiRan have signed a cooperation agreement for the development of projects in the space industry. The…

2025-02-24 | Redakcja | 3 minutes
Shooting

Streamlight introduces the TLR-8 HL-X and TLR-8 HL-X sub

Streamlight introduces the TLR-8 HL-X flashlight with an integrated laser sight, producing a beam with up to 1,000 lumens of power, offering…

2025-03-18 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

Semi-automatic designated marksman rifle MSBS Grot .308 S20 for civilian shooters

Fabryka Broni Łucznik-Radom, a member of the Polish Armaments Group, has introduced the semi-automatic designated marksman rifle MSBS Grot .308 S20…

2025-03-11 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Streamlight introduces the TLR-8 HL-X and TLR-8 HL-X sub

Streamlight introduces the TLR-8 HL-X flashlight with an integrated laser sight, producing a beam with up to 1,000 lumens of power, offering…

2025-03-18 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

IWA 2025: Leupold’s New Products

In a short video report from IWA OutdoorClassics 2025, a Leupold representative discusses the key new products for this year.

2025-03-10 | Michał Ihnatów | 1 minutes

Enforce Tac 2025: Source Tactical with Ballistic Protection for Women

At the Source Tactical booth, not only popular hydration systems were showcased, but also personal ballistic protection—including armor specifically designed…

2025-02-26 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

CuraheeGear introduces the TF-50 uniform set to its product lineup

CuraheeGear introduces the TF-50 uniform set, which includes pants designed specifically for the Commando Military Unit (Jednostka Wojskowa Komandosów) in…

2025-02-18 | Michał Ihnatów | 4 minutes

Enforce Tac 2025 starts on February 24th

Enforce Tac is an international trade fair aimed at law enforcement officers, experts from government agencies, and representatives of the…

2025-01-30 | Michał Ihnatów | 4 minutes

POLSECURE: Holsters HPE Poland offer for uniformed services

At the 3rd International Police and Public Security Fair POLSECURE 2024 in Kielce, Holsters HPE Poland presented its offer for…

2024-05-01 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Semi-automatic designated marksman rifle MSBS Grot .308 S20 for civilian shooters

Fabryka Broni Łucznik-Radom, a member of the Polish Armaments Group, has introduced the semi-automatic designated marksman rifle MSBS Grot .308 S20…

2025-03-11 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

IWA 2025: WBP Rogów presents Piast rifle

The Wytwórnia Broni Jacek Popiński (WBP Rogów) is presenting a highly anticipated new product at the IWA OutdoorClassics 2025 trade fair…

2025-02-27 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

Setting Up a Shooting Belt: An Example with Clawgear

To assist with shooting training and beyond, various belts and gear configurations have been developed and customized to suit individual needs. It’s…

2024-11-28 | Łukasz Kołodziejski | 14 minutes

Weapon light: a practical tool for everyday service. How to choose?

In the world of armed forces, where every second can determine the outcome of an operation, precision and effectiveness are…

2024-08-29 | Redakcja | 7 minutes

Over 100% increase in gun permits in Poland in 2024

The Polish Police have released statistical data on firearm permits issued in 2024. An increasing number of Poles now hold…

2025-02-20 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

Firearms In Poland 2023: Number of permits continues to grow

The National Police Headquarters has released statistics regarding the number of firearm permits and firearms themselves in the hands of…

2024-02-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

5 Best Value ATN Rifle Scopes Under €1500

ATN is a leading manufacturer of daytime optics, smart night vision, and thermal vision technology. The innovative features and ergonomic designs…

2022-11-11 | Redakcja | 8 minutes

MILMAG Visits Grand Power

Grand Power is a Slovak manufacturer of the acknowledged good quality firearms. Take part in our guided tour with English subtitles.

2022-05-23 | Redakcja | 1 minutes

TEST: Direct Action Vanguard Uniform

The Vanguard is a uniform set from the Polish brand Direct Action, designed in collaboration with special forces soldiers. There are…

2025-01-19 | Michał Gaweł | 18 minutes

EOTECH Holographic Sight – History, Technology, Practice

The holographic sight is a device known for nearly 30 years and used by professionals around the world. A favorite sight of many…

2024-09-02 | Michał Gaweł | 12 minutes

EOTECH Holographic Sight – History, Technology, Practice

The holographic sight is a device known for nearly 30 years and used by professionals around the world. A favorite sight of many…

2024-09-02 | Michał Gaweł | 12 minutes

The first Bulgarian F-16 Is Nearing The End Of Production

A delegation of Bulgarian authorities visited the facility of the American company Lockheed Martin in Greenville, South Carolina, where the assembly of the first of 16 F-16C/D Block 70 multi-role aircraft for the air force will soon be completed.

January 16th, 2024. Bulgarian Minister of Defense Todor Tagarev, Ambassador of Bulgaria to the USA Georgi Panayotov, and Chief of Defense Admiral Emil Eftimov visited the Lockheed Martin F-16 production facility in Greenville last week to assess the progress on the F-16C/D Block 70 aircraft, which are intended for their country.

Photos: Lockheed Martin

Currently, seven multi-role aircraft ordered by Bulgaria are in various stages of production. The maiden flight of the first Bulgarian F-16 is scheduled for later this year.

OJ Sanchez, Vice President and General Manager of the Integrated Fighter Group at Lockheed Martin, commented on the visit:

As part of the ongoing contract, Bulgaria is acquiring modern and proven fighters that will serve it for decades as part of 21st Century Security, ensuring the highest combat capability and interoperability within the NATO alliance. We are proud that the most advanced F-16 aircraft ever built will be delivered to Bulgaria, thus enhancing the defense capabilities of the country.

Bulgaria will be the second European country to receive the F-16C/D Block 70. So far, the production line in Greenville has already assembled 135 aircraft of this version, making this facility one of the key contributors to the security of allied nations worldwide.

Press release

Analysis

This is not the first visit of a Bulgarian delegation to the USA to inspect the progress on the F-16 aircraft for it’s air force (Voennovëzdušni sili, VVS). On November 11, 2023, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense presented the first yet unfinished aircraft.

According to the current schedule, the first two aircraft, including one F-16C and one F-16D, are expected to be completed by the end of July 2024. Deliveries to the recipient will commence no later than the end of March 2025.

Bulgaria ordered 16 F-16C/D Block 70 aircraft, with the first eight ordered in July 2019 in the latest production version, for the equivalent of $1.256 billion, and the remaining eight in September 2021. However, these were expected to be delayed, and according to information from February 17, 2022, the first deliveries were supposed to start no earlier than 2024 (and actually, it is supposed to involve symbolic handover in the USA, where Bulgarian personnel are trained, rather than relocation to Bulgaria). The main reason for the delays, primarily among Lockheed Martin subcontractors, was the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally, they were planned to be fulfilled between 2023 and 2027.

The Bulgarian Air Force possesses 11 MiG-29A/UB fighter aircraft, stationed at the 3rd Fighter Air Base at Graf Ignatievo airfield. However, this fleet is gradually decreasing in size (in 2021, it had 14 aircraft), and it suffers from low operational readiness (during that time, only 5-7 were expected to be operational). Additionally, one of the aircraft was lost in crash on June 9, 2021. Consequently, the government in Sofia declined to transfer these aircraft to Ukraine for combat operations without support in terms of equipment from their allies.

Originally, in the years 1989-1990, the Soviet Union supplied Bulgaria with 22 MiG-29 aircraft, including 18 single-seat MiG-29A (9.12A) and 4 two-seat MiG-29UB (9.51). On September 29, 1994, MiG-29A with tactical number 25 crashed (the base commander of Ravnec, Major Ivan Dayev, was killed), and on April 26, 2012, MiG-29UB with tactical number 19 and serial number 26333 was involved in an accident (the entire crew was killed). Interestingly, the latter aircraft was later used by the Bulgarian TEREM “Georgi Benkovski” company to develop a refurbishment project and was subsequently sold to Poland in 2015 without engines. In 2020, the then Minister of Defense, Krasimir Karakachanov, spoke in the parliament about the need to sell the old aircraft.

By the end of 2023, Lockheed Martin had produced the first two Slovak F-16C/D Block 70 aircraft (out of 14 ordered) and two for Bahrain (out of 16 ordered). On January 10 of this year, Bratislava formally received these aircraft.

Lockheed Martin has received orders for 136 F-16C/D Block 70 aircraft so far, and this number will soon increase to 148. These orders come from various countries, including Bulgaria, Slovakia, Bahrain, Jordan (12 units), Morocco (25 units), and Taiwan (66 units). Additionally, the aircraft are being offered to India (as the F-21 variant), Ukraine, the Philippines, Colombia, and Vietnam. It appears that there may soon be a breakthrough regarding the 40 F-16C/D Block 70 aircraft for Turkey, after Ankara gave the green light to Sweden within NATO.

In the production of the latest F-16s, Lockheed Martin’s subsidiary Polish-based PZL Mielec has been involved. On August 29, 2023, it announced the completion of the production of the first rear fuselage structure for this aircraft.

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