U.S. approves potential sale of F-16 aircraft to Bulgaria
By Patricia Zengerle
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. State Division has accredited the potential sale of as much as eight F-16 plane and associated gear to Bulgaria, in a deal valued at $1.673 billion, the Protection Division stated on Monday.
The principal contractor shall be Lockheed Martin, the Pentagon stated.
U.S. officers stated the sale settlement was circuitously associated to Russia’s month-long invasion of Ukraine, which prompted the Kyiv authorities to ask that nations which have Russian-made MiG plane – together with Bulgaria – to show them over to be used within the battle towards Russian forces.
As a former a part of the Soviet bloc, Ukraine’s pilots are already skilled on MiG plane, so might use them with none delay for coaching.
These MiGs would in concept get replaced with F-16s from the US. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby stated on Monday he wouldn’t characterize the sale as such “backfilling,” however didn’t present additional particulars.
A supply accustomed to the matter stated the sale had “not a lot” to do with the battle in Ukraine, as it’s a part of a years-long effort by Bulgaria to modernize and improve its air drive and enhance interoperability with NATO allies.
Bulgaria introduced a earlier buy of F-16s two years in the past.
One other supply acquainted famous that the plane are new manufacturing, so they might not be prepared for supply for 3 to 4 years.
Bulgaria’s request, the Pentagon stated, included buy of 4 F-16 C Block 70 plane; 4 F-16 D Block 70 plane; 11 engines; 11 Improved Programmable Show Mills; and 11 AN/APG-83 Energetic Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Scalable Agile Beam Radars.
(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; extra reporting by Idrees Ali and Paul Grant; Modifying by Nick Zieminski and Alistair Bell)
