Bulgaria's Parliament approved a new contract of 7.2 million dollars for the F-16 aircraft

Bulgaria’s Parliament on June 9 approved a contract to build a warehouse to store classified equipment and weapons for the F-16 aircraft. The facility will be located at the Graf Ignatyevo base and will cost USD 7.2 million.

The contract provides for:

• Supply of locks, door locking mechanisms, and supplies necessary to establish security systems in accordance with U.S. Government security requirements.
• Design and construction of a security system for the classified equipment storage area.
• Management services for the classified equipment storage warehouse for three years and three years of maintenance of the security and structural systems associated with the operation of the warehouse.
• Consulting services for the design and construction of security systems for other facilities for the F-16 Block 70 aircraft at Graf Ignatievo Air Base, where the aircraft's classified equipment will be stored, and the use of classified information.

The new contract has been criticised by “Vazrazhdane”.

Nikolai Drenchev, “Vazrazhdane”: 'They may ask us for more money if it ever comes, it may never come. This is the truth about the contracts that have been signed for the F-16. It is not a contract, it is a letter of offer or acceptance. If we don't accept this thing, we won't get aircraft worth billions delivered, some of which we have paid up front."

After the ratification law takes effect, the Secretary of State will notify the United States government of the implementation of the national procedures for the entry into force of the contract. The first payment of $162,000 will be in December this year. The last on June 15, 2027.

"We have commented from the outset that this contract is of public disbenefit. Now the US, the Pentagon is asking for 7.2 million to store their equipment. There is nothing illogical in this, as every country keeps its patents. But the big question arises, ladies and gentlemen, since the Pentagon keeps 1.3 billion dollars of the Bulgarian taxpayers, is it not insolent to ask Bulgaria for another 7 million?", said Rumen Gechev from BSP for Bulgaria.