Biden administration green lights F-16 sale to Bulgaria

The Biden administration has signed off on the sale of up to eight F-16 jets, 19 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles, 28 Small Diameter Bombs and a host of other equipment to Bulgaria under a deal valued at $1.6 billion, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced today.

The potential sale, DSCA said in its release, would bolster “the security of a NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe” while building off Bulgaria’s initial purchase of eight new F-16s.

Pointing to Bulgaria’s “commitment to modernizing its armed forces,” DSCA noted the new agreement would improve the country’s ability “to meet current and future threats by enabling the Bulgarian Air Force to deploy modern fighter aircraft routinely in the Black Sea region” and more frequently operate alongside other regional F-16 customers.

The deal would include four each of the F-16 C/D Block 70 variant, as well eight engines and three spares and related equipment ranging from embedded GPS navigation systems to anti-spoofing modules. In addition to the AMRAAMs and SDBs, the buy would also feature 12 Joint Direct Attack Munition tail kits, fuze systems and more.

Bulgaria is currently awaiting delivery of the first batch of F-16s to replace its Soviet-made Mig-29 jets. One of a number of countries that have continued to express interest in Lockheed Martin’s signature fourth-generation fighter, Bulgaria had previously sent the U.S. Air Force a request for pricing and availability for more of the latest Block 70/72 variant, Inside Defense reported early last year.

DSCA notified Congress today of the potential sale, following the State Department’s decision to approve it, per the release.

The news comes in the weeks after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and Defense Minister Dragomir Zakov during his trip to Europe, in which Austin “affirmed U.S. appreciation for the U.S.-Bulgarian strategic partnership and reiterated U.S. commitment to the security of NATO's Eastern Flank during this critical time,” according to a Pentagon readout of the visit.