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World Aviation Defense & Security News - Bulgaria
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| Bulgarian Air Force’s 2016 budget limits modernization plans | |||
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The Bulgarian Air Force (BAF) will be allocated some extra funds to carry out its modernization plans, according to the Finance Minister, Vladislav Goranov. Nevertheless, these will be limited and will only allow for partial execution of major platforms.
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The new defence budget will be presented to the parliament for voting in the next few days and before the end of this week. The Bulgarian Air Force is planning to withdraw its legacy Soviet-era fighter aircraft and replace them with new or second-hand western ones. The Ministry of Defence has not chosen yet the new type.
It is possible that Bulgaria might opt to buy either Saab Gripen, Eurofighter or Lockheed Martin F-16. Given that the newly allocated funds are still considered limited for the acquisition of a large number of fighter jets. According to the Minister of Defence, BAF will not be able to procure a full but only half a squadron, under a multi-year programme. The additional funds had been an issue of friction between the Government and the Chief of the Air Force, who resigned in order to protest the current situation of the organization and the government’s intention to sign an agreement with NATO, to allow joint air policing with allied countries. However, he took back its resignation after the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov reassured him that more funds would be allocated in the 2016 budget. |
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