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A protest against the idea of Bulgaria giving weapons to Ukraine was organized yesterday by Vazrazhdane. Most of the people were brought by buses from the country. Some of them carried Russian flags. PHOTO: PHOTO: VELISLAV NIKOLOV
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We send 2,000 helmets and bulletproof vests to Ukraine free of charge
A new split in the ruling coalition has sparked an offer to buy eight more US F-16 fighter jets for BGN 3 billion. The BSP has spoken out against the deal, although the government has not even started negotiations on it.
On Monday, the US State Department approved a possible deal with Bulgaria for aircraft at an estimated cost of $ 1.673 billion, or approximately BGN 3 billion. Hours later Tuesday morning, President Rumen Radev asked the cabinet to carefully consider the deal and respond. up to 2-3 months. But both Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and his deputy Asen Vassilev insisted on not rushing.
However, Blagovest Belev, the head of the parliamentary defense committee, who is from “We continue the change”, has a different view of the offer.
“The price offered by the United States is lower than the price at which we buy the first eight planes, which means that
they trust us as a trading partner and one in NATO, “Belev said on Wednesday.
In fact, the price that the United States is now offering us was the initial amount of the deal in 2019 for the first 8 pieces, although then we wanted a much cut package. The Bulgarian government reduced the number of missiles, pilot helmets, etc. and the price dropped to 1.2 billion dollars, or 2.2 billion levs. Currently, for example, Bulgaria wants 3 spare engines, the first 8 fighters are taken only with 2, the same applies to the radars, the numbers of the other components are also increased. Unlike the first eight, the new planes could be bought in installments, as the requirement for this is that Bulgaria has a credit history with the United States. However, how long they will be paid depends only on what the cabinet will agree on.
The deal for eight more brand new fighters was also supported by the leader of “Democratic Bulgaria” Hristo Ivanov.
“The most expensive thing is not to make decisions in this situation.”
he was adamant. Ivanov stressed that the current situation does not allow us not to invest in our armed forces.
However, the new BSP fighters were seen as “insanely expensive”. “We are giving the weakest economy to the most powerful once again BGN 2.2 billion for something they did not even know where it would be produced. And now come the second planes at an even higher price. How does this work? After all, GERB explained that they would be cheaper. And now they turn out to be even more expensive “, the socialist Borislav Gutsanov was indignant. He even described as “disgraceful” the fact that Romania, Greece and Poland bought the same much cheaper.
“We cannot learn from the foreign administration what this is about,” he added.
Vazrazhdane, the party that organized a protest in front of parliament on Wednesday, urged Bulgaria to remain neutral in Russia’s war against Ukraine, also spoke out against a deal for new F-16s. Russian flags were waved at the Vazrazhdane rally. The party is launching an investigation into exactly how the agreement was reached for the first eight fighters paid for in 2019, MP Nikolay Drenchev announced. Upon completion of the investigation, Kostadin Kostadinov’s men would send a signal to the prosecutor’s office.
“We have several old MiG-29s, I don’t know how long they will be able to function if something needs to be done. Of course, we need to have defensive capabilities. If there is a problem, it is the way the front batch of F-16s is only on paper. I don’t know how GERB signed this contract “, said the deputy head of ITN Toshko Yordanov.
And as “nonsense of the Prime Minister in an attempt to be original” Hristo Gajdev from GERB described the statement of Kiril Petkov that “the last time the Bulgarian government took the decision (b.r. – for American F-16 fighters) on foot.”
There are not one, but four contracts. To talk such nonsense is not serious, Gadzhev said.
In other news yesterday, lawmakers ratified an agreement to acquire three more Sidewinder AIM 9X Block II missiles. So far, Bulgaria has bought a total of 15, and in practice there were two missiles for 7 of the planes, and only one for the eighth. Now there will be 2 for each fighter and two more for the reserve.
Until the arrival of the F-16, our skies will be guarded by Soviet MiG-29s. However, there is another problem with them – repairs and maintenance can be carried out only in Russia and Ukraine, which are currently at war. Bulgaria has been negotiating with Poland to repair our planes, but there is also a problem with the supply of parts. Apart from them, our skies are also protected under the joint NATO air policing agreement. It is for him with us
4 Dutch F-35 fighters arrived yesterday
They will remain until May 31.
On Wednesday, the government also decided to provide 2,000 helmets and 2,000 body armor to Ukraine free of charge. A decision of the Council of Ministers on granting financial aid is forthcoming, announced the head of the cabinet Lena Borislavova.
The protective equipment will be provided from the available quantities with the assistance of the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense, she specified. They would be given to the civilian population.
“The Bulgarian government is reacting sharply against the atrocities committed in Bucha,” Borislavova added.
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