Deals
Bulgaria Agrees to Buy F-16 Jets From U.S. in $1.25-Billion Deal
- Government will sign contracts for eight fighters, equipment
- Bulgaria seeks to modernize its Soviet-era air force
This article is for subscribers only.
Bulgaria approved the purchase of eight Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets for $1.25 billion, a crucial part of the Balkan country’s biggest defense overhaul since the Cold War.
The contract to buy the new F-16 Block 70 aircraft is part of the government’s effort to replace outdated Soviet-era equipment. Bulgaria and other eastern European countries are revamping their armies to meet NATO standards after Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump that they weren’t spending enough on defense.