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

The Bulgarian Ministry of Defense received permission from the government to purchase an additional batch

fourth generation fighters F-16 Fighting Falcon from Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics.

What is known

The United States agreed to the sale of aircraftback in April. The Bulgarian government approved the funding almost six months later. This was announced by the Minister of Defense of the country Dimitar Stoyanov (Dimitar Stoyanov).

</ img>

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

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

</ img>

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

Images: Britannica, Lockheed Martin