The F-16 fighter aircraft has a minor technical issue that is expected to be resolved within days, Bulgaria’s Chief of Defense Admiral Emil Eftimov said in an interview with public service broadcaster BNT. "This is not a topic that should be discussed so widely. The real topic is that the modernization of the Bulgarian Armed Forces has begun", Admiral Eftimov said. He explained that there will also be issues with other equipment, and that is normal. Emil Eftimov described as insinuations the allegations of espionage. ''There has been no information leak. I will clarify this during the parliamentary control session on Wednesday", Admiral Eftimov added, recalling the certification of the security systems at Graf Ignatievo Air Base.

''There is no scandal involving the Bulgarian F-16s, only a misunderstanding'', Bulgaria’s Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov said in an interview with Nova TV.  According to him, the faulty part has already been secured and it is only a matter of time before it is replaced.