Bulgaria’s Parliament on Friday ratified the agreement for the purchase of eight F-16 fighters from the United States in the midst of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine after Washington offered a new batch to the Bulgarian government.
With 151 votes in favor, 42 against and eight abstentions, the bill has gone through. The package also includes ammunition, training systems and spare parts, according to information from the BTA news agency.
Bulgaria had until this November to accept or reject the U.S. Administration’s offer to acquire the eight fighters for $1.26 billion.
As per the delivery schedule, Bulgaria should receive the first fighter around mid-2023. However, the batch is now scheduled to arrive in 2025 due to delays following the coronavirus pandemic.