Bulgaria Awaits First F-16 Fighter Jets by End of Q1; Entire Fleet Expected by End of Q3
Bulgaria is poised to receive the first two F-16 fighter jets by the end of Q1, with all eight aircraft from the initial contract set to be delivered by the end of Q3, according to a recent announcement by Frognews. The delivery of these jets will mark a significant milestone in Bulgaria’s modernization of its air force capabilities.
In October, the manufacturing company showcased a test flight of one of the Bulgarian F-16s, paving the way for the arrivals later this year. The entire F-16 fleet is expected to assume air policing duties currently handled by MiG-29s, a transition that is projected to be completed by around 2030.
A pending judicial decision has delayed the progress of the radar modernization project, with the Ministry of Defense confirming that there are no funds allocated in the current budget. This project is crucial for the effective utilization of the F-16s within the Bulgarian Air Force.
Separately, funds are needed to finalize the purchase of Javelin missiles, for which a contract worth approximately $114 million has been agreed upon. Meanwhile, deliveries of new US-built combat vehicles for the Bulgarian Army are expected to commence in the second quarter of 2025.
The Bulgarian Navy’s first new vessel, "Hрабри" (Fearless), is set to undergo trials by June and will be commissioned by the end of the year.
While a 30% increase in military salaries was promised for early 2025, the budget constraints may delay this initiative. The proposed increase would range from 2300 BGN to 6700 BGN, with an additional outlay of over 500 million BGN for the entire military. Discussions on civilian military training are also on the table, pending a decision by the regular cabinet.
Bulgaria aims to allocate 2.09% of its GDP to military spending in 2023, aligning with NATO recommendations and reflecting the recent aspirations of the U.S. President, Joe Biden, to increase Europe’s defense spending to 2% of GDP.
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