Bulgaria to replace its MiG-29 aircraft.

Bulgaria has decided to replace its old MiGs by new fighter jets, in order to bring the country’s Air Force in line with NATO standards.

F-16V "Viper" Block 70 (Picture source : Lockheed Martin)

There were three candidates to replace the MiG-29, respectively the Sweden’s Saab Gripen jets, the Italy’s second-hand Eurofighters and the Lockheed Martin’s F-16V Block 70. The Bulgarian parliament has now approved a government plan to enter into talks with the US on a potential deal for 8 F-16 (the newest F-16 production configuration). Lockheed Martin and the Bulgarian government will now proceed to negotiations about the contract for these 8 aircraft.

The Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon is the first US Air Force multi-role fighter aircraft. The F-16V (the “Viper”) features enhancements including an AN/APG-83 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, a new Center Pedestal Display, a modernized mission computer, Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System, and improvements to the cockpit.