The first virtual reality system of its kind, allowing the study of the F-16 Block 70 aircraft and its systems on a real scale, was delivered to the Higher Air Force School "G. Benkovski" - Dolna Mitropolia in Bulgaria. Its acquisition is part of the project to create a center for the training of flight and engineering-technical personnel for the F-16 Block 70 aircraft from the Industrial Cooperation Program with the manufacturer Lockheed Martin.
With this system, the Air Force School becomes one of the pioneers in the use of virtual reality for the training of aviation specialists and the only one in Europe at the moment with training opportunities for the F-16 Block 70 aircraft, the Ministry of Defense announced.
The industrial cooperation program was signed in 2019. It was ratified by the National Assembly together with the F-16 Block 70 acquisition contracts.
The project "Support for the establishment of a national center for the training of aviation specialists" involves the provision by Lockheed Martin of technical assistance and funding for the establishment of a "National Center for the training of aviation specialists". The beneficiary is VVVU "G. Benkovski". Within the framework of the project, the teaching staff was trained and certified and a virtual simulator for F-16 Block 70 aircraft was delivered. The implementation of the project is expected to end with the delivery of two new Cessna 172 Skyhawk initial flight training aircraft in early 2026 | BGNES
