WASHINGTON, (BGM) – An announcement was published on the website of the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) stating that the US Congress has allowed Bulgaria to be given the opportunity to purchase a complete package for eight F-16 Block 70 multirole fighter aircrafts worth $ 1.6 billion, learned BulgarianMilitary.com.

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The package includes the value of the eight aircrafts with full air-to-air and air-to-ground armament, all additional aircraft systems as well as the future upgrades and newly introduced weapon systems.

This is the maximum financial framework of the project for acquisition of a new type of multirole fighter by Bulgaria. There is a two-week term during which the US government will provide the Bulgarian side with a draft agreement (LOA) in which the expected cost of acquiring the eight aircrafts with a package of the necessary combat capabilities will be within $ 1.2 billion. Upon expiration of the two-week term and receipt of the draft agreement, the negotiation process will continue.

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The Ministry of Defense is pleased to note the fact that in a short time the US Congress has made a decision to export to Bulgaria the high-tech platform and its systems.

BulgarianMilitary.com recalls that in the middle of May the Bulgarian Minister of Defence Krasimir Karachanakov said that the negotiations with the US have not achieved a satisfying for the Bulgarian side price for the aircrafts, and if that does not change, it is possible the government to turn to the second bidder, namely Saab with their Gripen.

Read more: Bulgaria and the U.S. Can’t Agree On the F-16 Price. Possible Negotiations for the Swedish Gripen

“Some of the proposals in the terms of price are not satisfactory, so the negotiations continue. The price for a part of this service is unacceptable at this stage. If we cannot attain the result needed we have the right to propose to the National Assembly to terminate the project or we to continue the negotiations with some of the other participants“ Karakachanov said.

Initially, the Bulgarian Parliament authorized the price of 8 new multirole fighter aircrafts to not exceed BGN 1, 8 billion. Later, the MPs adopted an additional decision that the international contract for acquisition of a new type of combat aircraft would deviate from the stated price.

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BulgarianMilitary.com

Translator editor: Monika Evgenieva

Source: Focus Agency