Defence Minister: Without Viper Shield, F-16s can only stand alert for national requirements

Bulgaria’s F-16s can only stand alert for national requirements without the Viper Shield system, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said on Friday, as quoted by Mediapool. Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov explained that until the F-16s have Viper Shield, their alert duties are limited to national requirements.

Minister did not specify what national requirements cover

Mediapool reports that the newly purchased fighters cannot yet be assigned to air policing because their equipment fit has not been completed.

Stoyanov did not specify which tasks the term covers or how it relates to air policing. His remarks therefore provide no basis for concluding that all use of the F-16s is ruled out. Nor should it automatically be assumed that the distinction is between national tasks and NATO tasks.

Scope of alert duties depends on available equipment

In Flank’s assessment, the key question is which specific tasks the fighters can perform with their current equipment. Acquiring the aircraft and achieving readiness for a particular type of alert duty are separate stages. The minister’s statement links the scope of their use to Viper Shield.

According to Mediapool, the delivery date for the systems is still unknown. Without it, it is impossible to determine how long the stated restriction will remain in place. For planning the policing of Bulgarian airspace, the next key information will be the timetable for completing the equipment fit and clarification of which alert duties the F-16s will be able to undertake afterwards.

This is a developing story and further information may be added.