Image source: topwar.ru
The Bulgarian Air Force may be replenished with American fourth-generation fighters in the near future, the US State Department has approved the possible sale of eight F-16 C/D Block 70 fighters to Sofia. This was reported by the Office for Security Cooperation of the US Department of Defense.
The US State Department has approved the potential sale of eight F-16 fighter jets to Bulgaria. If the contract is signed, and approval does not mean its automatic conclusion, Sofia will receive eight aircraft and additional equipment. All this will cost Bulgarians 1.67 billion dollars, but this is an approximate amount. It is possible that in connection with the events taking place in the world, it may increase significantly.
The decision to approve the sale of the F-16 to Bulgaria in the United States was explained simply and clearly: "meets the goals of the United States and strengthens the position of NATO."
The fact that the Bulgarians intend to purchase a second batch of F-16C/D Block 70/72 fighters and air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons became known last year. At the same time, the request went to Washington. Thus, in total, the Bulgarian Air Force should receive 16 American fighters, which in the future will replace the Soviet-made Mig-29 fighters still in service.
That's just when the F-16s will start arriving is not yet clear. In February of this year, the authorities of the republic already intended to demand compensation from the United States for the long delay in the delivery of fighters of the first batch of eight units, by the way, fully paid. As it turned out, the United States postponed the shipment of aircraft to Bulgaria for two years, explaining this with "production problems" that arose due to the coronavirus. If the first fighter jet of the country's Air Force was to be received in 2023, it will be received in 2025.
Sofia has already expressed concerns that the country may face security problems due to the lack of aircraft.
