Bulgaria wants 10 JAS-39C/D Gripen fighters, awaiting F-16 Fighting Falcon deliveries

The Bulgarian government last month approved the purchase of an additional batch of American F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters. But deliveries will start only in a few years. In this regard, Bulgaria wants to get fighters from the Swedish company Saab.

Here's What We Know

Defense News reports that Bulgaria's Defense Ministry has requested proposals to lease fighter jets from four countries, as the US F-16 Fighting Falcon jets will not become operational until 2027 or 2028.

Sweden and France were the first to respond to the proposal. At the same time the publication EURACTIV reports that Bulgaria wants to get ten JAS-39 Gripen in C and D versions. And we are talking about the purchase, not lease. For Saab it could be the first deal in the last eight years. The Swedish company Saab has not been able to sell a single Gripen aircraft since 2014.

Bulgaria will retire its Soviet-era MiG-29s in 2023, but deliveries of the F-16 Fighting Falcon won't start until 2025. At the same time, the country's Air Force will need up to three years to use all the capabilities of the U.S. fighters of the fourth generation.

Bulgaria has allocated $1.3 billion for the purchase of eight F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. According to the contract, the United States will supply medium-range missiles, cannons and bombs in addition to the planes.

Source: EURACTIV, Defense News