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The US Air Force will provide the Bulgarian Air Force with two decommissioned F-16s after receiving approval from the US Congress, the US Embassy in Bulgaria announced on Wednesday.
At the request of the Bulgarian government, these two aircraft will be provided under the Emergency Defense Articles Program (EDA) of the US Department of Defense. To be used as training aids and general familiarization of the Bulgarian Air Force with the team.
The announcement is related to the visit of the Undersecretary of State for Political and Military Affairs, Renee Clark Cooper, who on Wednesday visited the Bulgarian air bases in Graf Ignatievo and Bezmer and the Novo Selo training ground.
The donation of these two aircraft comes after Bulgaria’s recent purchase of eight F-16 Block 70 fighters from the United States, which is described as “an important step towards modernizing the Bulgarian armed forces,” the embassy said in a release. The acquisition of the fighters also provides large-scale resources for our joint mission to ensure security in the Black Sea region, they added.
The government bought 8 F-16 Block fighters, 70 from the United States and Lockheed Martin for 2.1 billion lev and plans to buy 8 more, but it is not clear when that will happen.
They are expected to be cheaper and can be paid in installments.
“Bulgaria’s purchase of F-16 aircraft from the United States through the Foreign Military Sales Program testifies to the deepening of our partnership in the field of defense. In the last two years, we have implemented more than 170 military initiatives. Working together on this joint airspace mission, we are strengthening our partnership. It provided training in the United States to more than 5,000 Bulgarian military personnel, as well as more than $ 50 million in US investments to upgrade Bulgarian military facilities. Through From the long history of friendship and military cooperation between the United States and Bulgaria, our successes demonstrate once again that we are more secure and stronger when we act together. “it said in a statement quoted by BGNES.
At Count Ignatievo, the Under Secretary of State had the opportunity to observe American pilots from the 31st Fighter Wing, assisting the Bulgarian Air Force in the enhanced NATO airspace protection mission, ensuring the safety of the Bulgarian skies and increases operations. compatibility between NATO partners.
During his visit, the Under Secretary of State said that these joint aircraft are of great importance in strengthening NATO capabilities and thanked the United States and Bulgaria for its commitment to the Alliance.
Undersecretary of State Cooper’s visit follows Secretary of Defense Krassimir Karakachanov’s visit to Washington, where on October 6 he met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and the two signed a roadmap of ten years for defense cooperation, the embassy said. .
“It will serve as a guide for the work of our two countries to further strengthen our alliance over the next ten years,” they added.
The roadmap marks a new chapter in the history of strong military cooperation between the United States and Bulgaria. This partnership began in 2006, when the United States and Bulgaria signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement, which provides for the exchange of various military bases and allows the US military to increase its participation in training. exercises in Bulgaria.
The visit of the Assistant Secretary of State is an important step in the implementation of the Road Map, as well as in strengthening NATO’s capabilities in the region.
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