Government approves budget revision for purchase of F-16s

At an extraordinary meeting today, the government has adopted a bill amending and supplementing the 2019 State Budget Act, the government press office said. The bill was drafted in connection with the acquisition of F-16 fighter jets for the Bulgarian Armed Forces, “which are of paramount importance for the national security and defence of the country, for the implementation of the NATO collective defence mechanisms, and EU’s common security and defence policy”, the press release reads.

Some days ago, the government approved a deal to acquire eight new US F-16 fighter jets for USD 1.25 billion. The Cabinet adopted a report signed by 4 ministers and mandated the defence minister to sign four contracts concerning the purchase of F-16 Block 70 aircraft with additional equipment, ammunition, air-to-air missiles, and a visualisation, monitoring and management system. Six single-seat and two two-seat F-16s would be delivered by 2023. The price also includes ground equipment and personnel training. The payment will be made in one go.

Source: FOCUS News Agency