Bulgaria again considers the purchase of used F-16s

http://www.f-16.net/news_article4129.html


Even after 4.5 and 5th gen fighters are introduced, the air forces of other countries are still asking for Vipers. This is cool. If the deal goes through, I wonder which model/block of F-16 they'd be likely to acquire. I think I read somewhere that Romania was trying to pick up some second hand block 25s. Does this mean there are early C model Vipers out there that still have some life left in them? I'd rather see F-16s in the service of other friendly countries instead of being shot down and sent to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. I'm betting Bulgaria wants the cheapest deal possible, so my guess is that they'll get F-16As from AMARC with MLU applied to them. What do yall think?

I personally think we owe Bulgaria some new block 50/52+ as simple thanks - if they are willing to pay support and maintenance, perhaps.

It's crazy to think of all the military-ops spent budgets this past decade and not be able to justify a couple $billion in this regard, out of respects and cooperative interests.

Zdrasti.

geogen,

We're f@cking broke dude! No FREE handouts!!! The US govt has already fuct itself by handing out too many free lunches. I say we give them a bargain on some low hour F-16A ADFs sitting out at AMARC. We'll give them a good deal, help them with the MLU upgrades and they will have the honor and privileged of training with the best F-16 pilots on earth (fire breathing Americans). I think that's fair; the US makes some money, Bulgaria gets some high grade military gear. I always see NATO F-16s tanking from US KC-135s and KC-10s, so I'm sure they'll get plenty of free gas during joint training like Red Flag or something. I think it's good to help out our allies, but right now we really can't afford it.