F-16s in Bulgaria and Romania: What are the differences? A comparison of vision, funding, and infrastructure

Tuesday, Jun 3, 2025

Mediapool

Bulgaria and Romania modernize air forces, choosing different F-16 acquisition strategies.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

Bulgaria and Romania have begun modernizing their fighter jet fleets, which previously relied on old Soviet fighters. The two countries are pursuing different strategies, with Romania moving more quickly. Bulgaria has purchased new F-16 Block 70 fighters, though only one has been delivered so far, while Romania prefers to invest in much cheaper second-hand F-16s. Neighboring Romania is preparing to transition to acquiring F-35 fighters, whereas Bulgaria does not have such an option and will rely on the F-16 for at least the next 30 years.

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