site.btaPresident Comments on Defence Ministry's Plan to Seek Rescheduling of Payments for Stage Two of F-16s Delivery

Asked about the Defence Ministry's intention to negotiate with the United States for a rescheduling of the obligations under the contract for the second stage of the delivery of the F-16 Block 70 aircraft, President Rumen Radev said the problem is that Bulgaria did not request sufficient ground equipment for the aircraft to be kept fully operational.

It must be clear that the F-16 is a modern fighter with immense capabilities, but in order to use them there must be reliable ground support so that the aircraft can be kept at operational readiness, said the President, who was the Air Force commander in 2014-2016.

The problem is that, in 2019, the package for logistical support and ground equipment was cut dramatically for financial framework considerations, Radev said. He recalled the veto he imposed at the time, which was not about the aircraft or the US, as some speculated, but was based on his firm conviction that there would be problems with the fighters' maintenance.

Radev urged the government to conclude a new contract for integrated logistical support as soon as possible, so that the aircraft can fly.

The President was commenting on Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov's statement on November 14 that the Ministry would take steps towards reducing expenditures in 2026, including talks with the US to reschedule the obligations under the contract for the second stage of delivery of the F-16 Block 70 aircraft, shifting EUR 361 million from 2026 to 2028. He said that by rescheduling the F-16 payments, the shortfall under some already signed contracts - around EUR 210 million - would be compensated.

The Defence Ministry's budget is projected at EUR 2.708 billion in the 2026 State Budget Bill, 2.25% of GDP. 

So far, six F-16 fighters have been delivered under a 2019 agreement with the US, and two more are expected by the year's end.