The first F-16 fighter jets will arrive at the beginning of 2025, caretaker Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov said for BNT. In the authum of 2024, Bulgarian pilots will be trained in the United States how to fly the aircraft. Next year, Bulgaria will also receive the new Stryker combat vehicles.

According to Minister Zapryanov, the modernization of the army is underway, and people see the future with new aircraft, combat vehicles, and ships. In his words, increasing the salaries of military personnel is an important but insufficient tool.

"Now the responsibility lies with the political leadership of the Ministry of Defense and the military command to develop other mechanisms to make the military profession attractive", Atanas Zapryanov said.

Understaffing is most concerning in the Land Forces, and in particular in our main combat brigades, which, according to NATO's new requirements, must maintain a high level of readiness, Atanas Zapryanov went on to say.

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