August 12 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria's defence ministry said on Monday that it has transferred in full the agreed sum of $1.2 billion (1.1 billion euro) for the delivery of eight F-16 Block 70 fighter jets along with the related equipment and weapons from the U.S.
The money was transferred to the U.S. Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on August 8, the defence ministry said in a statement.
Following confirmation of the receipt of the sum by the DSCA, the deal is in force for the U.S. and its implementation can be initiated, the ministry added.
Last month, Bulgaria's parliament ratified the deal with the U.S. for the purchase of eight F-16 Block 70 fighter jets and their maintenance and approved a revision of the 2019 budget deficit to 2.1% of the projected gross domestic product in order to finance the purchase.
The deal envisages the delivery of six single-seat F-16 jets and two two-seat aircraft used for training, as well as supply of weapons for the jets, Sidewinder AIM 9Х Block II missiles, and a multifunctional information distribution system joint tactical radio system (MIDS JTRS), the defence ministry said earlier.
US aerospace and defence company Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of F-16, said in April that it could deliver the first jet fighter to Bulgaria by the end of 2022 if the country strikes a deal with the U.S. by this summer.
($ = 0.89364 euro)