Bulgaria To Begin Negotiations With US On Purchase Of 8 F-16V Fighters

[A.P. Richelieu]

well suited to their need but its ageeing technology gripen would have been better choice but how do you please your ultimate master this is what bulgaria doing.

They have started negotiation, but that does not mean that they will go for the F-16 in the end.

 

[Yongpeng Sun-Tastaufen]

They have started negotiation, but that does not mean that they will go for the F-16 in the end.

Correct.

 

[A.P. Richelieu]

https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2019/...negotiation-with-bulgaria-on-gripen-fighters/

Sweden Remains Open to Negotiation with Bulgaria on Gripen Fighters
By

Stanislava GeorgievaJanuary 17, 2019
SOFIA, Bulgaria (BulgarianMilitary.com) – Sweden remains ready to negotiate on the Gripen fighters in the procedure of selecting a new type of combat aircraft for the Bulgarian Air Forces, according to the official position of the Director Export and International Relations of Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV) Joakim Wallin voiced today, learned BulgarianMilitary.com

“We respect the decision of the Bulgarian Parliament on the process of acquiring a new type of combat aircraft, but we are convinced that the Swedish offer brings more advantages to Bulgaria.”

Read more: Bulgaria Starts Negotiating with the U.S. on the F-16 Purchase After Parliamentary Approval

Sweden believes that Gripen is the best option for Bulgaria and our Air Force, saying the fighter is the most advanced combat aircraft that have been proven in joint NATO missions.

“Gripen is manufactured in Europe, fully compatible with NATO standards and it has low costs throughout its lifespan. Moreover, Sweden offers a fully compatible package of 10 fighters,” emphasizes Joakim Wallin and adds that, along with the necessary armament and equipment, the offer is under the EUR 767 million budget originally approved by the Bulgarian Parliament.

The representative of Swedish Defence Material Administration notes that the report of the MoD expert group states that Gripen features the best operational capabilities. Such a partnership will bring benefits to Bulgarian society as a result of the deepening cooperation between the two countries

Read more: SAAB Gripen Played its Trump Card for the Deal of New Bulgarian Fighter Jets

Sweden has already rejected that the purchase of new Gripen fighters will exceed the budget if all the equipment and armament required for aircraft to be multifunctional, are acquired through concluding contracts with third countries. According to the Bulgarian analysis, SAAB offers fighter aircraft for Air Policing.

The Swedish Defence Material Administration says that it continues to monitor the process and remains available for further talks if Bulgaria wants to hold such.

The Defence Minister Krasimir Karakachanov announced earlier that if negotiations with the U.S. fail, Bulgaria will start talks with Sweden. However, the deal is expected to be concluded quickly with the U.S.

Read more: Lockheed Martin: We Will Support Our New Bulgarian Partners

Today, the Business Development Director for the F-16 Program at Lockheed Martin James Robinson stated that if Bulgaria decides to purchase 16 F-16 fighters, the second 8 aircraft will be at a much lower price than the first batch.

He added that no update of avionics and computers would be needed for decades, and the maintenance will be carried out by the Bulgarian Air Force at the Graf Ignatievo Air Base. At the same time, the training of the Bulgarian pilots is also included in the contract – it will be conducted in the U.S.

 

[Damir877]

None of these countries are Arab or East European
Indonesia
Pakistan
Singapore
South Korea
Republic of China (Taiwan)
Thailand
Chile
Venezuela


Norway, Netherlands, Denmark and Belgium operate F-16s

Greece,Turkey and Israel too...

 

[Avicenna]

No they do not buy F-16 they buy F-35. Only Arabs and eastern Europeans buy F-16.

Are you a troll or really this ignorant?

 

[ziaulislam]

still should have gone for 36 gripens far better with global eye the complete air package F 16 was a legend but i dont like it may be used as a second support not front line jet

there is little difference in price..USA equipment is cheaper than gripen when it comes to weapons..as the article itself mentions..that was deciding factor..and ofcourse f16 is much better from NATO prospective

 

[Yongpeng Sun-Tastaufen]

Greece,Turkey and Israel too...

Greece is the only one that does not get F-35 due to their pro Russia policy but Greece is not considered an eastern European country.

 

[Damir877]

Greece is the only one that does not get F-35 due to their pro Russia policy but Greece is not considered an eastern European country.

It was a response to your ignorant post that only Arabs and eastern Europeans are buying F16,do you even read what you post?
And LOL at Greece being pro Russian...

 

[Super Falcon]

there is little difference in price..USA equipment is cheaper than gripen when it comes to weapons..as the article itself mentions..that was deciding factor..and ofcourse f16 is much better from NATO prospective

But it lacks in technological advances comoare to gripen

 

[ziaulislam]

But it lacks in technological advances comoare to gripen

nopw f16 is far better than gripen in range payload(almost 50% better) and EW with better AESA radar

There is simply no competition between gripen and f16 ..if gripen wins somewhere its due to

1. lower cost of operation(smaller engine) and generous fiscal support given by sweden (e.g in case of SAAB Pakistan and gripen/saab thailand)
2. or better freedom of home made weapon integration (south africa/brazil)

 

[Yongpeng Sun-Tastaufen]

It was a response to your ignorant post that only Arabs and eastern Europeans are buying F16,do you even read what you post?
And LOL at Greece being pro Russian...

Greece and Russia have good relations. Greece is grand daddy of western civilization. No western country buys F-16 anymore. They only buy F-35.

 

[Damir877]

Greece and Russia have good relations. Greece is grand daddy of western civilization. No western country buys F-16 anymore. They only buy F-35.

So having good relations with Russia equals being "pro russian"???So by that logic Turkey is among most pro Russia countries right now,even more so then Greece.Thanks for the info.
As far as F 35 is concerned,Greece was (and still) is offered to buy it,they just chose not to,for the time being mostly because of financial reasons.

 

[Yongpeng Sun-Tastaufen]

So having good relations with Russia equals being "pro russian"???So by that logic Turkey is among most pro Russia countries right now,even more so then Greece.Thanks for the info.

Turkey is not pro Russia. Turkey sells armed drones to Ukraine and competes with Russia for turf in Syria.

 

[Damir877]

Turkey is not pro Russia. Turkey sells armed drones to Ukraine and competes with Russia for turf in Syria.

At least they are not kicking out Russian diplomats like "pro Russia" Greece does...

 

[Yongpeng Sun-Tastaufen]

At least they are not kicking out Russian diplomats like "pro Russia" Greece does...

Orchestrated show between Russia and Greece. Make Greece appear anti Russia so they can get F-35.