State approves F-16s to Bulgaria as Pentagon eyes more sales to former Eastern Bloc nations

By Justin Doubleday / June 4, 2019 at 2:28 PM

The State Department has approved a potential $1.7 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets to Bulgaria, as the U.S. government eyes closer security cooperation ties with former Eastern Bloc countries.

The proposed sale includes eight F-16 C/D Block 70/72 aircraft produced by Lockheed Martin, as well as various support equipment and weaponry, according to a statement from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

"Bulgaria currently relies on the United States and the United Kingdom to participate in joint air policing," the statement reads. "By acquiring these F-16s and the associated sustainment and training package, Bulgaria will be able to provide for the defense of its own airspace and borders."

During an event at the Brookings Institution in Washington today, DSCA Director Lt. Gen. Charles Hooper said he has been working closely in recent months with Bulgaria, as well as Croatia, Poland and Romania.

"All of those countries are in the process of looking at replacing their old Soviet equipment with U.S. equipment to improve NATO interoperability," Hooper said. "Many of those countries, their economies are still evolving. They may have resource challenges. We’re looking at creative ways to work with them to provide them with the best capabilities in the world at a price that they can afford."

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