Bulgaria allocated $1,300,000,000 to buy an additional batch of F-16 Fighting Black fighters to replace the MiG-29

The Bulgarian Defense Ministry has received permission from the government to buy an additional batch of fourth-generation F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters from Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics.

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The United States approved the sale of the planes back in April. The Bulgarian government approved the funding almost six months later. This was announced by the country's Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov.

The second batch includes eight more fourth-generation F-16 Fighting Black fighters in C/D Block 70 modifications (four C and D each). Thus, the Bulgarian Air Force will have a full-fledged fighter squadron of 16 aircraft. The first batch included six single-seat F-16C Block and two two-seat F-16Ds.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon F-16s are replacing the Russian MiG-29s, which will be decommissioned. The first contract was signed in 2019, and deliveries will begin in 2025, with a two-year delay.

The cost of the new contract is $1.3 billion. In addition to eight fourth-generation fighters, it includes medium-range AIM-120C-7/C-8 (or equivalent) and AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, M61A1 Vulcan guns and aerial bombs, including GBU-39/B.

Source: Defense Brief

Images: Britannica, Lockheed Martin