Fighter jets on the southeastern flank of NATO. Why is Romania cited as an example in Bulgaria? A comparison between two neighbouring countries

Saturday, Oct 26, 2024

HotNews

Romania transitions from Soviet jets to F-16s and plans for F-35s, contrasting with Bulgaria’s slower modernization.

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

Romania and Bulgaria are transitioning their air forces from older Soviet fighter jets to newer Western platforms, with Romania having started earlier by operating F-16s while Bulgaria is just beginning its wait for American aircraft. Romania currently operates 29 F-16s and plans to have 49 by the end of 2025, allowing it to retire old MiG-21s. In contrast, Bulgaria still relies on aging MiG-29s and depends on NATO allies for air defense. Due to its own transition delays, Romania will provide F-16 deployments to assist Bulgarian airspace security in 2027. Bulgaria is acquiring 16 new F-16 Block 70 jets for $2.3 billion, but experts suggest this purchase will indefinitely delay the acquisition of fifth-generation fighters like the F-35. The transition presents challenges for the Bulgarian air force regarding pilot numbers and base modernization. Romania’s approach involved purchasing used F-16s from Portugal and later 32 used ones from Norway, which have undergone significant upgrades, costing about half of what Bulgaria is spending on new jets. Furthermore, Romania has secured approval to purchase 32 F-35s for $6.5 billion, expected to enter service around 2030.

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