The USA will give the Bulgarian Air Force two decommissioned F-16 fighters
The Bulgarian Air Force will soon be replenished with two F-16 fighters. According to the US Embassy in Sofia, the US Air Force will transfer two decommissioned F-16s to Bulgaria under the program "Transfer of Surplus Military Products to Foreign Countries", the aircraft will be delivered free of charge.
- said in the message of the US diplomatic mission.
It is clarified that the decision to transfer two decommissioned F-16s was made in connection with the purchase of eight F-16 Block 70 aircraft by Bulgaria from Lockheed Martin.
Recall that Bulgaria buys eight F-16V fighters, the first F-16 should be delivered before the end of 2022, and the rest in 2023 and 2024. In the future, it is planned to purchase eight more F-16s. Lockheed Martin has already received a contract for the production of eight F-16 Block 70 multipurpose fighters for Bulgaria.
The cost of the contract for the supply of F-16 for the Bulgarian Air Force is $ 1,256 billion, which is almost 2% of the country's GDP. This contract caused fierce controversy in the country, the deal was even vetoed by the President of Bulgaria.
The new F-16 fighters should replace the Soviet-made MiG-29s, which are in a very poor condition. Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of Bulgaria announced a desire to sell Soviet fighters.
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