Bulgaria seeks fighter acquisition bids

Neil

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2010
Messages
2,818
Likes
3,546
Country flag
Bulgaria's defence ministry has approached the governments of France, Germany, Sweden and the USA with a request for information about the possible purchase of eight new or used multi-role fighters.

Intended to initially supplement and later replace the Bulgarian air force's 12 RSK MiG-29A fighters and two MiG-29UB trainers, the new fleet could be increased to total 20 aircraft after 2014, according to Sofia's new armed forces development plan.

Types included within the requests for information include the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed Martin F-16C/D and Saab Gripen. Sofia has not requested information from Moscow on the MiG-29M/M2.

Sources suggest that Bulgaria has asked about the possible availability of secondhand fighters, such as the Dassault Mirage 2000 and Panavia Tornado.

Responses to the requests for information are due in late March, with defence minister Anyu Angelov suggesting that a winner should be selected by mid-2012. Deliveries of new aircraft could start within another 30-36 months, or from around 18 months if a secondhand model is selected.

Bulgaria in 2006 outlined a requirement for 16 new-build fighters, but did not advance further than receiving initial feedback from several companies.

The NATO member's last MiG-21s will be retired at the end of this year, with its Su-25K/UBKs to follow suit during 2012. Operations with its air force MiG-29s are expected to continue until 2020.


http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/02/08/352889/bulgaria-seeks-fighter-acquisition-bids.html
 
Joined
Feb 16, 2009
Messages
29,797
Likes
48,276
Country flag
Interesting that Bulgaria has the same choices of planes as us in the MRCA (except the MIG).
 

Neil

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2010
Messages
2,818
Likes
3,546
Country flag
Interesting that Bulgaria has the same choices of planes as us in the MRCA (except the MIG).
almost every country wanting to buy jets have only certain options....even Brazil MMRCA competition has same contenders as us
 
Joined
Feb 16, 2009
Messages
29,797
Likes
48,276
Country flag
almost every country wanting to buy jets have only certain options....even Brazil MMRCA competition has same contenders as us
It looks like anyone can buy if they have the money but what will be the icing on the cake for us?? Especially with the huge numbers we are planning???
 

Neil

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2010
Messages
2,818
Likes
3,546
Country flag
It looks like anyone can buy if they have the money but what will be the icing on the cake for us?? Especially with the huge numbers we are planning???
True....guess thats why its taking so long....the MMRCA deal is not just for MoD or IAF but MoF and MEA are going to participate in full swing!!

If we get UNSC seat from the US....will u go for F-16 or F-18....??
 
Joined
Feb 16, 2009
Messages
29,797
Likes
48,276
Country flag
True....guess thats why its taking so long....the MMRCA deal is not just for MoD or IAF but MoF and MEA are going to participate in full swing!!

If we get UNSC seat from the US....will u go for F-16 or F-18....??
F-18 even though it has heaviest takeoff weight in the MMRCA, it is a flying bomb truck.
 

sandeepdg

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2009
Messages
2,333
Likes
227
F-18 even though it has heaviest takeoff weight in the MMRCA, it is a flying bomb truck.
Its capabilities can be easily matched by the Sukhoi, again a similar bomb truck, so we can do without it here in IAF.
 

Neil

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2010
Messages
2,818
Likes
3,546
Country flag
M not talking about which planes we will go for LF sir and sandeep bhai....but if we are assured by Americans or Europeans for an UNSC seat[even if we go for the worst a/c in MMRCA....] will you support it...??
 

Atul

Founding Member
Regular Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2009
Messages
514
Likes
9
By not even including the MIG's in the Request of Information the Bulgarians have shown a violent shift from the Soviet Block to the America led NATO.. (Dis-honoring a old friend).
 
Joined
Feb 16, 2009
Messages
29,797
Likes
48,276
Country flag
By not even including the MIG's in the Request of Information the Bulgarians have shown a violent shift from the Soviet Block to the America led NATO.. (Dis-honoring a old friend).
Many of these new NATO ex soviet bloc nations may have earned their NATO member titles only to open up new markets for western arms.
 
Joined
Feb 16, 2009
Messages
29,797
Likes
48,276
Country flag
M not talking about which planes we will go for LF sir and sandeep bhai....but if we are assured by Americans or Europeans for an UNSC seat[even if we go for the worst a/c in MMRCA....] will you support it...??
I would not support it, a silly title is not worth our national security.
 

Blackwater

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2012
Messages
21,157
Likes
12,211
I think Bulgaria is in NATO it should get f-16 free as membership package
 

Latest Replies

Global Defence

New threads

Articles

Top