Why did the first brand new Bulgarian F-16 aircraft break down immediately upon delivery? Romania was cited as an example in..

Wednesday, Jun 11, 2025

HotNews

Bulgaria’s F-16 purchase faces delays and issues, contrasting with Romania’s strategic acquisition of used jets for future upgrades.

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

Bulgaria’s purchase of 16 new, high-specification F-16 Block 70 fighter jets for nearly two billion euros has faced significant issues, including the first jet malfunctioning immediately upon delivery and subsequent political controversy. Meanwhile, Romania is presented as a contrasting example, having acquired used F-16s from Portugal and later from Norway to facilitate a transition toward fifth-generation F-35 fighters. Romania’s approach involved purchasing older jets that were subsequently upgraded, costing significantly less per aircraft compared to Bulgaria’s new purchases. Both countries face challenges regarding pilot training and necessary infrastructure upgrades for their respective F-16 programs. Due to the slow operationalization of its new fleet, Bulgaria will rely on NATO allies, including Romania, for air policing missions in the near future.

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