TSAMTO, November 7. At a meeting held on November 4, the Bulgarian Parliament approved a draft investment expenditure for the implementation of the second stage of the acquisition of 8 F-16 Block fighters.70.
According to the information center of the Bulgarian Defense Ministry, the bill was supported by 162 deputies, 49 opposed, 11 abstained. The acquisition of the aircraft was opposed by the Vozrozhdenie Party and the Bulgarian Socialist Party for Bulgaria (BSP for Bulgaria) coalition.
As the representative of BSP for Bulgaria, Rumen Gechev, stated, the party does not support the purchase of aircraft, since the purchase price is indicative, the American side can raise the price by 10% without notification, and even higher – with notification. At the same time, the cost of spare parts is not indicated anywhere in the supplier's offer. In addition, the contractor received 2.3 billion rubles. levov, does not comply with the delivery dates of the first batch of aircraft. Both in the first and in the second contract there are no clauses on quality assurance of aircraft, spare parts, supplier's responsibility for unsatisfactory quality and penalties for violation of delivery dates.
The Provisional Government of Bulgaria approved draft international agreements for the purchase of a second batch of eight F-16 fighters in the United States on October 26. At the same time, the Cabinet of Ministers authorized the Bulgarian Defense Minister to sign contracts with the American corporation Lockheed Martin as soon as parliamentary approval is received.
As reported by TSAMTO, the US State Department approved the delivery of the first 8 F-16C/D Block fighters to Bulgaria under the Foreign Military Sales program.70/72, related equipment and services with a total value of up to $1.673 billion in May 2019.
In July 2019, the Bulgarian Cabinet of Ministers approved a package of contracts for the supply of F-16s, including international agreements for the supply of the F-16 Block aircraft themselves.70 and related support, ammunition, UR AIM-9X Unit.2 "Sidewinder", a multifunctional information exchange system - a single tactical radio system MIDS-JTRS. On July 26, 2019, the package was approved by the Bulgarian National Assembly.
On August 8, 2019, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense transferred $1.2 billion to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) for the purchase of fighter jets.
It was assumed that the first aircraft would be delivered in mid-2023, and the full delivery would be completed by 2024. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the schedule was disrupted. It is now expected that deliveries will begin in 2025, and initial readiness for combat use will be achieved in 2026. This required the Bulgarian authorities to start implementing a project to purchase or lease fighter jets to fill the gap for the period from 2023 to 2029.
In April 2022, the US State Department approved the potential supply of 8 additional F-16C/D Block fighters to Bulgaria under the Foreign Military Sales program.70, related equipment, weapons and services. The total cost of the order, as stated, could amount to $ 1.673 billion.
As part of the second stage of the purchase, Bulgaria intends to receive four single-seat F-16C Block aircraft.70 and four two-seat F-16D unit.70, as well as related ammunition and equipment.
As previously announced by Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov, the total cost of three contracts for the supply of eight additional F-16C/D Block aircraft.70 is $1.296 billion. In addition to fighters, the purchase package also includes air-to-surface, air-to-air and communications equipment. The delivery of additional aircraft will increase the total number of F-16C/D in the Bulgarian Air Force to 16 units and form a full squadron. It is expected that the delivery will be completed in 2027.
The F-16C/D supply offer submitted by the United States expires on December 15. By that time, an international supply agreement should be ratified, as well as the first payment for the aircraft in the amount of about BGN 30 million. Next year it will be necessary to pay BGN 42 million.
