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Bulgaria Considers to Replace Russian MiG-29s With F-16 Jets

04:50 GMT, 15 December 2018
© AP Photo / Go Bum-jun/Newsis
In June 2018 Bulgarian Parliament approved a plan to spend around $2 billion on its Air Force modernization. It planned to purchase 16 fighter jets to replace its existing air fleet of MiG-29s.
Sputnik

"A new F-16 is a much better aircraft than all the others available," Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov said on December 14.

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Talking on the sidelines of an EU Summit in Sofia, Bulgarian PM expressed his concerns over "better terms" he expects would be provided by Lockheed Martin in a potential F-16 Jets deal.

"I want our aviation to have the best aircraft, because the situation in the region is complicated. We need a fighter jet that go into a military situation and prevail,” Borissov added.

READ MORE: 'Political Gesture': Slovakia to Replace Russia's MiGs with US F-16s

For now the Defense Ministry of Bulgaria is considering offers from the US for Lockheed Martin F-16s and Boeing F-18s, Gripen jets from Sweden and Eurofighters from Italy, according to the Sofia Global.

Earlier, Jim Robinson, the International Business Development Manager for F-16 in Lockheed Martin, said that the Lockheed Martin and the US government will reduce the cost and delivery time of its F-16 jets.

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The air fleet modernization is a part of a Bulgarian two-stage plan of improving Bulgaria's compliance with NATO standards, according to Reuters.

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