site.btaPresident Expects Government Will Not Downscale F-16 Aircraft Acquisition Project

June 19 (BTA) - Discussing the
 planned purchase of eight F-16 fighter jets for the Bulgarian
Air Force, President Rumen Radev said on Wednesday: "I expect
the government to guarantee that the combat capabilities will
not be cut down compared to what we have pledged." Radev, who is
 also Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, spoke to
journalists after attending the tactical firing exercise Strike
Back 2019 at the Novo Selo Training Area.

His comment came two days after the US Office of Defence
Cooperation in Bulgaria formally delivered a Letter of Offer and
 Acceptance to the Ministry of Defence in connection with the
future F-16 deal.

Radev said any project should bring benefit not only for the Air
 Force but for Bulgarian society in general. "This implies
strong industrial cooperation, working in the field of high
technology," he added.

The President said it is important to consider the whole F-16
package for Bulgaria: the aircraft itself, the equipment, the
armament, the ground facilities, and the training of pilots.
"The Defence Ministry envisions a package which ensures reliable
 capabilities and utilization of the combat potential of the
aircraft. Any reduction of that package will result in an
inability to utilize the combat potential," Radev said.

He gave high marks for Exercise Strike Back 2019 at Novo Selo
and greeted the participants. He said: "The most important thing
 in a joint operation in a coalition format is to have good
communication, coordination and interaction, joint tactics and
procedures." Radev underscored the dynamism, accuracy and
coordination displayed during Wednesday's demonstrations.

The President offered condolences to the family of a Canadian
paratrooper who fell to his death when his parachute did not
deploy during another drill in Bulgaria, the US Army
Europe-directed exercise Swift Response 2019. He said the
military profession involves high risk and requires extreme
caution and excellent equipment, training and motivation.

The tactical firing exercise Strike Back 2019 began on June 7.
It involves over 600 members of Bulgaria's Ground Forces and Air
 Force, a mechanized infantry company of the US Army, two
infantry platoons from Albania and North Macedonia, and a tank
platoon and close air support helicopters from Greece.

In addition to President Radev, the drill was also watched by:
Bulgaria's Chief of Defence, General Andrei Botsev; the Adjutant
 General of the Massachusetts National Guard, Major General Gary
 W. Keefe; North Macedonia's Chief of General Staff, Major
General Vasko Gjurchinovski; and the Chief of the Hellenic Army
General Staff, Lieutenant General Georgios Kambas. IG/VE

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