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Lockheed Martin`s F-16 Is the Bulgarian Choice for New Fighters. Negotiations
with the United States Start
By
SOFIA, Bulgaria (BulgarianMilitary.com) – On the last working day before
Christmas, the working group, appointed to evaluate the submitted bids for a
new aviation plane for the Bulgarian aviation, chose, as stated in its report,
the new F-16V Block 70 of the American company Lockheed Martin, learned
BulgarianMilitary.com
“The acquisition of a new
multipurpose fighter such as F-16V Block 70 from the United States, equipped
with the latest generation radar and weaponry, will improve significantly the
combat capabilities of the Bulgarian air force,” Defence Minister Krasimir Karakachanov
told reporters.
By the
final stage of the procedure for acquisition of a new fighter jet, Lockheed
Martin (USA) offered the new F-16, SAAB (Sweden) – the Gripen, and Italy –
second-hand Eurofighter Typhoons.
For almost two years the choice for a new fighter jet was delayed
after the temporarily selected government in the spring of 2017 chose the
Swedish Gripen. However, after the state elections, the new government of Boyko
Borissov stopped the procedure and restarted the deal. Then, one of the main
reasons for this was the suspicion of corrupt practices by SAAB and BAE Systems
in Hungary and the Czech Republic.
We recall that only a few days ago Lockheed
Martin admitted that the producer would not be able to deliver the first batch
within two years as Bulgaria requires, but now the International Business
Development Director for the F-16 Program at Lockheed Martin James Robinson
told reporters that the company and the U.S. government will reduce the cost
and shorten the delivery time compared to its current offer.
On the
other hand the Swedish government has come up with a new proposal – not for 8,
but for 10 fighters within the set by Bulgaria budget for the purpose.
According to unconfirmed information, the US offer is higher than
the government’s budget, as well as the method of payment. This can be overcome
in direct negotiations between the governments. Improving the price is real and
possible, according to the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence.
At the same time, the working
group commented on why it did not choose the Swedish Gripen – “there
is an emphasis on an airplane equipped for Operation Air Policing. For the rest
of the equipment and equipment to bring the aircraft to “multifunctional”, the
Bulgarian side must acquire, under a separate contract with a third party, the
respective quantities and licenses, the value of which is not included in the
total price offer.”
The draft agreement must first be approved by the
Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria and the intergovernmental
negotiations with the United States should be completed. At the end of the
whole process, the Bulgarian Parliament must ratify the future deal between
Bulgaria and the United States.
Source: bulgarianmilitary.com
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