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Bulgaria’s fighter purchase on hold

24th July 2019 - 09:00 GMT | by Alexander Mladenov, Krassimir Grozev in Sofia

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The Bulgarian Parliament has ratified the deal for the purchase of eight new-build Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 70 fighters for the Bulgarian Air Force (BuAF). The contract was inked by the Bulgarian defence minister, Krasimir Karakachanov, on 11 July and the parliamentary ratification needed to render it valid in accordance with the national legislation followed suit on 19 July, but the president has now halted proceedings.

The deal has been criticised by the Bulgarian president, Rumen Radev, a former fighter pilot. He has claimed on numerous occasions that the weapons package has been cut to an unacceptably low level,

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Alexander Mladenov

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Alexander Mladenov

Alexander Mladenov is a Shephard correspondent based in Sofia, Bulgaria.

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Krassimir Grozev

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Krassimir Grozev

Krassimir is a journalist based in Sofia, Bulgaria

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