불가리아, F-16 Blk70 인도 지연에 따라 대체전투기 도입 추진

[위종민]

불가리아가 발주한 F-16 블록 70이 코로나 사태로 인도가 2023년에서 2025년으로 지연돼 실제 운용은 2028년에나 가능할 것이라고 합니다. 

이에 따라 2023년 말부터 운용중지될 것으로 예상되는 노후된 MiG-29를 대체하기 위해, F-16이 FOC를 달성할 2028년~2030년까지 air policing 임무를 담당할 임시 전투기 도입을 추진중이라고 합니다. 미국, 스웨덴, 프랑스, 이스라엘, 네덜란드, 스페인, 이탈리아에 중고기 대여 가능성을 타진하는 서한을 보냈는데 네덜란드와 스페인, 이탈리아는 이 제안을 거절했고 미국의 반응은 현재 공개되지 않았으며, 스웨덴과 프랑스가 호의적인 반응을 보냈다고 하네요. 프랑스는 미라지 2000이나 라팔을, 스웨덴은 JAS-39 C/D 그리펜을 제공할 수 있다고 합니다. 스웨덴, 프랑스 양국은 이 뉴스에 대해 논평하지 않았습니다. 

또한 MiG-29의 운용기한 연장을 위한 동 기체를 운용중인 폴란드와도 협의하고 있다고 합니다. 

https://breakingdefense.com/2022/11/awaiting-f-16s-bulgaria-closes-in-on-interim-fighter-potentially-from-sweden-or-france/

Awaiting F-16s, Bulgaria closes in on interim fighter potentially from Sweden or France - Breaking Defense

Awaiting F-16s, Bulgaria closes in on interim fighter potentially from Sweden or France

Tim Martin

5-6 minutes

---

A Bulgarian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet takes flight (Photo: Bulgaria MoD)

BELFAST — The Bulgarian government looks to be edging closer to reaching an agreement for an interim fighter aircraft after holding talks with Sweden and France, while the southeastern European nation awaits American F-16s.

The potential acquisition of the jets was prompted by Lockheed Martin when it delayed delivery of F-16 Block 70 aircraft to Sofia from 2023 to 2025, following COVID-19 supplier issues, meaning they wouldn’t go operational until 2028 or so.

Thus, Bulgaria requires an “interim” type to replace an aging MiG-29 fleet that’s expected to be unserviceable due to maintenance issues from the end of 2023 onward, a Bulgarian Ministry of Defense (MoD) spokesperson told Breaking Defense in a statement.

“Until the F-16s reach full operational capability around 2028-2030, interim fighters will have to be used for the purpose of carrying out the Air Policing mission in the airspace of Bulgaria,” the spokesperson explained.

The interim fighter acquisition started out with Bulgaria sending letters to the United States, Sweden, France, Israel, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy, detailing the possibility of leasing second-hand aircraft. The Netherlands, Spain and Italy have all since confirmed they are unable to meet the request, according to the Bulgarian MoD spokesperson. The spokesperson didn’t say how the US responded, and a representative for the State Department said they don’t comment “on potential/pending arms transfers.”

“Sweden and France have responded favorably to our request,” the spokesperson said. “We have initiated talks with [both]… to explore the possibilities for [the] interim fighter acquisition. We have not received any offers yet.”

Sweden could offer Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D aircraft with France in a position to either pitch its Mirage 2000 or Rafale jets. Both the Swedish and French governments have not responded to requests for comment.

In a bid to resolve the MiG-29 maintenance issues, Bulgaria also has held discussions with Poland, as the latter also operates the aircraft and could offer a way forward for Bulgaria to potentially service their fleet beyond 2023.

A first tranche of eight F-16 Block 70 fighter jets was agreed between Bulgaria and the United States in 2019 with a second tranche of eight approved by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency in April 2022. Bulgaria’s National Assembly passed “stage 2” of the investment expenditure plan for the second tranche “earlier this November,” confirmed the MoD spokesperson. Last month the State Department said the F-16s “will provide Bulgaria with a fleet of modern multi-role combat aircraft, supporting Bulgaria’s capability to defend its airspace, bolstering regional security, and enhancing the Bulgarian Air Force’s interoperability with the United States and NATO.”

Lockheed originally discclosed COVID-19 supplier issues on the F-16 Block 70 program in November 2021, two years after Bulgaria ordered the jet, admitting that the main source of the disruption was linked to a “major subassembly of the aircraft,” without identifying the foreign supplier. Those problems now look to be behind the manufacturer however as it plans on “significantly” increasing production of the fighter jet throughout 2023, according to a Lockheed spokesperson.

Assembly of Bulgaria’s first F-16 Block 70 has started at Lockheed Martin’s Greenville, S.C., production facility, alongside other models on order for Bahrain and Slovakia, the spokesperson said.

“The first F-16 Block 70 jet has completed the Final Assembly & Checkout (FACO) and paint phases [and]… is now preparing for its first flight, which we anticipate will occur by early next year.”

The spokesperson also detailed how plans are coming together to partner with Bulgaria once its jets are finally delivered.

“Today, Bulgaria is building the necessary infrastructure, training pilots and developing maintenance personnel to support F-16 operations when the jets arrive in country,” the spokesperson told Breaking Defense, referring to the eastern European nation’s planned “robust industrial participation package.” “In fact, Bulgarian pilots have been in the U.S. the past few years already for training.”

The NATO interoperable aircraft features a series of key capabilities and technologies including Northrop Grumman’s APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, a “modernized” cockpit, conformal fuel tanks and an extended service life of 12,000 hours, according to the manufacturer.

It also estimates that “almost” 700 F-16s are currently operating in Europe.

Bulgaria’s fighter fleet recapitalisation arrives as it tries to move on from political infighting over whether to supply weapons to Ukraine — a fierce debate that almost led to the collapse of the coalition government.

A compromise of helping to repair Ukrainian military equipment was originally settled on, but Bulgarian lawmakers were reported to have approved a “first military aid shipment” to Kyiv on Nov. 3, according to Bloomberg. Such a move will be welcomed by Ukraine but is unlikely to completely restore Bulgaria’s wounded image on the international stage.