Bulgaria considers plans to purchase used fighters due to delays in delivery of contracted F-16 aircraft — as country's defense department reported, they are currently considering various options for maintaining Bulgarian Air Force combat capability until achieving full operational readiness of fleet of new purchased F-16 Block 70 multirole fighters.
Sofia Globe reports this. Such variant is considered in addition to Sofia being in search of spare parts for its existing MiG-29 fighter fleet, to maximally possibly maintain them in service.
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Previously it became known Bulgaria is interested in components from Polish MiG-29 aircraft, and now reported is directing request to Hungary, which although decommissioned its last MiG-29s in late 2019, keeps them in storage — moreover, for example, several years ago Serbia purchased one Hungarian decommissioned fighter, precisely as spare parts donor.
Regarding used fighter purchase, country's defense department studies possibilities and considers such variants as F-16 or Gripen — reported is that country's defense ministry currently awaits response to requests directed to potential countries that could sell them these fighters. At same time, negotiations have not yet begun. How many used aircraft Bulgaria wants to buy is also not reported.
Defense Express notes such Bulgaria plans may have certain risks for Ukraine too — in context that (almost) any used F-16 or Gripen that Sofia considers for purchase may quite be variant for strengthening Armed Forces Air Force, if these aircraft are in combat-capable condition.
Although so far remains unknown to which specific countries Bulgaria submitted request regarding used F-16 or Gripen purchase. Also not excluded that regarding Polish MiG-29s, Sofia considers not only spare parts purchase but directly fighters, this may be simplest variant of all, but question is what condition Polish aircraft are in and whether there are at least several genuinely combat-capable machines.
By the way, such decision in country was already expectedly criticized by opposition and former defense department head. Supposedly instead of focusing on rearmament to new F-16s and strengthening protection from drones, government wants to buy obsolete equipment. Although in Europe one can cite example of same Romania, which purchased used F-16s from Portugal, Norway and Netherlands.
At same time worth acknowledging Bulgaria indeed has problems with delivery of F-16 fighters purchased from U.S. — despite country ordering first batch back in 2019, delivery of eight machines continued through end of last year. Second batch also of eight aircraft Sofia ordered in 2022, when machines should be delivered is currently unknown.
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