The Pentagon has not yet commented on whether Ukraine can now count on MiGs.
US State Department approves sale of eight to Bulgaria F-16 fighters and related equipment worth $ 1.673 billion, according to Reuters.
Bulgaria's purchase request included: four F-16 C Block 70 and D Block 70 fighters each; 11 engines and generators; and 11 more AN/APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars.
Modern fighters should “increase the security” of the state during the war in Ukraine, writes AFP.
“The purchase of eight new F-16 Block 70 fighters in the United States is one of the priority projects to modernize the Bulgarian Armed Forces,” the local BNT news agency reported. However, Reuters quoted US officials as saying that future supplies “Have no direct bearing on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”
“By and large, the agreement has nothing to do with the war in Ukraine, as it is part of Bulgaria's many years of efforts to modernize and upgrade its air force and improve interoperability with NATO allies,” a source familiar with the talks told reporters. >
Bulgaria announced plans to buy F-16 fighters two years ago. Their supply to Sofia could take three to four years.
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Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, Ukraine has asked NATO countries for Soviet MiG fighters to protect Russia-dominated skies . Ukrainian pilots are familiar with this technique and could start using it immediately without long-term training.
Ukraine planned to receive MiGs mainly from Eastern European countries, where many of these techniques have survived. Instead of the transferred Soviet fighters, the United States could agree to sell them modern F-16s to protect the sky.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said he would not be in a hurry to call the sale of Bulgarian fighters such a “replacement” “, And did not provide other details.
