Bulgaria May Face F-16 Delay as Government Renegotiates Payments

Acting Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov has indicated that the delivery of Bulgaria’s second batch of eight F-16 fighter jets is likely to be postponed by approximately one year. Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the annual conference of the Chief of Defence, he explained that the delay stems from the manufacturer’s inability to reach the targeted production rate of four aircraft per month, with current output standing at up to three. Because of the setback, Bulgaria is renegotiating its payment schedule and will disburse only half of the initially planned amount for the aircraft this year....