Bulgaria to begin negotiations for 'new' fighter aircraft

[Zarvan]

Bulgaria is to open negotiations with three F-16-operating nations for the procurement of surplus platforms, such as those of the Hellenic Air Force pictured. Source: Hellenic Air Force
Bulgaria has approved the procurement of a new combat aircraft type to replace its ageing MiG-29 'Fulcrum' and Sukhoi Su-25 'Frogfoot' platforms, national media reported on 1 July.

The country's cabinet approved the purchase of an as-yet-unidentified combat aircraft to replace the air force's Warsaw Pact-era fighters that have been in service since 1988 and 1986 respectively, according to the Novinite.com Sofia News Agency .

Defence minister Nikolay Nenchev made the announcement that he is to begin negotiations with Belgium, Greece, and the Netherlands for the procurement of surplus Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon jets, although another aircraft type from a different source remains an option. According to Nenchev, the air force requires at least nine aircraft to retain a viable 'combat air' capability.

While timelines were not disclosed, the minister is reported to have said that the issue of a repair agreement for the MiG-29s currently in service is not driving any deadlines as he expects a contract to be signed with Poland by the end of August at the latest.

Since announcing its plans to recapitalise its combat aircraft fleet, Bulgaria has been linked to the purchase of surplus Block 25 F-16s from the US Air National Guard, F-16AM midlife upgrade aircraft from Belgium, early tranche Eurofighter Typhoons from the Italian Air Force, surplus Saab Gripens from Sweden, as well as the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex/Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (PAC/CAC) JF-17 Thunder. This latest announcement by Nenchev now throws Dutch F-16AM and Greek F-16C/D platforms into the mix.

The acquisition of 'new' fighters is expected to cost approximately BGN500 million (USD283 million).

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Bulgaria to begin negotiations for 'new' fighter aircraft - IHS Jane's 360

 

[C130]

should trade Bulgaria used F-16s for their Su-25 frogfoot and give them to Iraq and Afghanistan.

 

[maxpayne]

Pakistan Aeronautical Complex/Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (PAC/CAC) JF-17 Thunder.

USD283 million

They can buy 9 JF-17 for this money

 

[Sinnerman108]

This is a good move.

F-16 is tested and very potent platform.
If they can procure them second hand at an affordable price, then they must.

 

[Beast]

This is a good move.

F-16 is tested and very potent platform.
If they can procure them second hand at an affordable price, then they must.

F-16 even 2nd hand is not affordable for budget of BAF.

 

[Sinnerman108]

F-16 even 2nd hand is not affordable for budget of BAF.

Budget is some thing only Bulgarian cabinet can decide upon.

 

[Beast]

Budget is some thing only Bulgarian cabinet can decide upon.

As if they can print as much as they want. They still can make money out of thin air,right?

Or you suggest, they can used all their country annual budget alone on F-16?

 

[Sinnerman108]

As if they can print as much as they want. They still can make money out of thin air,right?

Or you suggest, they can used all their country annual budget alone on F-16?

For some reason, I love Romania, Bulgaria and Poland.

I wish everyone the best, except for Indians.

 

[Penguin]

F-16 even 2nd hand is not affordable for budget of BAF.

Neither is the alternative, apparently.

Bulgarian Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev has announced the Air Force likely will pull its 12 MiG-29 fighter jets out of service rather than proceed with what he called an "overpriced" maintenance and repair deal with Russia.

Bulgaria May Withdraw MiG-29s From Service

Bulgaria is one of the countries that became full NATO members on March 29, 2004. Within NATO, there is a history of (militarily more advanced) memberstates passing (surplus) equipment along at relatively low cost to (less advanced) fellow memberstates. That's how Portugal and Belgium got Dutch frigates. And Greece and Turkey Leo2 tanks (to replace older US tanks). So, that's a form of subsidisation right there....

 

[nForce]

Bulgaria should not waste money on buying these toys for war if there is no immediate requirement.

If indeed they have to buy some, they should buy cheaper planes.

 

[Penguin]

The Romanian Air Force has signed an agreement with the Portuguese Government for the acquisition of 12 second-hand Lockheed Martin-built F-16 Fighting Falcon mid-life upgrade (MLU) aircraft. Even though the agreement details remain undisclosed, the estimated €186.2m contract covers nine surplus Portuguese fighters and three former US Air Force (USAF) aircraft, IHS Jane reports.

Romanian Air Force to acquire 12 used F-16 aircraft from Portugal - Airforce Technology

> under $16 million per aircraft

Chile incorporated 18 A/B MLU F16 from the Dutch Air Force costing 180 million US dollars.
Chile to increase F16 fighter bombers wing to 44 — MercoPress

JF-17 Thunder / FC-1 Xiaolong
Unit cost
Block 1: US$~25 million
Block 2: US$~28 million (estimated)

Bulgaria should not waste money on buying these toys for war if there is no immediate requirement.

If indeed they have to buy some, they should buy cheaper planes.

There IS an immediate requirement.

Combat Aircraft
MiG-21

Soviet Union fighter MiG-21bis 3
MiG-29

Russia multirole MiG-29UB 15
Su-25

Russia attack Su-25UBK 12

Since the early 2000s, Bulgaria has been trying actively to restructure its army as a whole and a lot of attention has been placed on keeping the aging Russian aircraft operational. Currently the attack and defence branches of the Bulgarian air force are composed of MiG-21s and MiG-29s. About 16 MiG-29 fighters have been modernized in order to meet NATO standards. In January 2011 the Bulgarian MoD issued a Request for Information (RFI) regarding the acquisition of 8 multi-role fighters. The main competitors are expected to be the Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale, Saab JAS 39 Gripen, Mikoyan MiG-29 or MiG-35, Lockheed Martin F-16 and Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet. On March 9, 2011 the Swedish Government submitted its response to the RFI containing 8 new Gripen C/D fighters. The Bulgarian MoD has extended the time limit for submittal of responses by two months due to the lack of responses from the other competitors.

 

[nForce]

Romanian Air Force to acquire 12 used F-16 aircraft from Portugal - Airforce Technology

> under $16 million per aircraft

Chile incorporated 18 A/B MLU F16 from the Dutch Air Force costing 180 million US dollars.
Chile to increase F16 fighter bombers wing to 44 — MercoPress

JF-17 Thunder / FC-1 Xiaolong
Unit cost
Block 1: US$~25 million
Block 2: US$~28 million (estimated)


There IS an immediate requirement.

Combat Aircraft
MiG-21

Soviet Union fighter MiG-21bis 3
MiG-29

Russia multirole MiG-29UB 15
Su-25

Russia attack Su-25UBK 12

Since the early 2000s, Bulgaria has been trying actively to restructure its army as a whole and a lot of attention has been placed on keeping the aging Russian aircraft operational. Currently the attack and defence branches of the Bulgarian air force are composed of MiG-21s and MiG-29s. About 16 MiG-29 fighters have been modernized in order to meet NATO standards. In January 2011 the Bulgarian MoD issued a Request for Information (RFI) regarding the acquisition of 8 multi-role fighters. The main competitors are expected to be the Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale, Saab JAS 39 Gripen, Mikoyan MiG-29 or MiG-35, Lockheed Martin F-16 and Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet. On March 9, 2011 the Swedish Government submitted its response to the RFI containing 8 new Gripen C/D fighters. The Bulgarian MoD has extended the time limit for submittal of responses by two months due to the lack of responses from the other competitors.

I'm not much of an expert in military aviation, but sometimes I follow them.
I think if they need some jets indeed, they should try some smaller option like Yak-130.

Cheap, easy to operate. It's about time the whole World gradually stops spending money on these fancy machines and understand the immediate priorities. Most of the people getting killed at present are due to small arms fire.

 

[ssethii]

Cheap, easy to operate. It's about time the whole World gradually stops spending money on these fancy machines and understand the immediate priorities. Most of the people getting killed at present are due to small arms fire.

Why don't you start by preaching at home first.

 

[nForce]

Why don't you start by preaching at home first.

We lobby for it everyday. How did you assume that we don't ?

Why don't you do the same ? So far as countries are concerned, perhaps more people get killed in Pakistan due to small arms fire than rest of the World put together.

 

[ssethii]

We lobby for it everyday. How did you assume that we don't ?

Why don't you do the same ? So far as countries are concerned, perhaps more people get killed in Pakistan due to small arms fire than rest of the World put together.

who are "We" in this scenario.
Any person with brain size larger than a peanut would know that in this world there is no honor without being able to put up a fight for it. We say we are a civilized world but in reality we are bunch of savages, ready to eat each other off if get a chance for it. Plotting scheming inside for each others doom but smiling outside. This world is owned and managed by hypocrites and it rather comes with a large supply of them.