|
|
От
|
Exeter
|
|
|
К
|
А.Никольский
|
|
|
Дата
|
24.02.2009 21:02:21
|
|
|
Рубрики
|
ВВС;
|
|
Причем всего восемь штук
Здравствуйте, уважаемый А. Никольский!
Jane's Defence Weekly
Bulgaria requests retired USAF F-16s
Jiri Kominek JDW Correspondent
Prague
Jane's has learned that Bulgaria is in talks with the US Department of Defense (DoD) over the procurement of retired US Air Force (USAF) Lockheed Martin F-16 aircraft.
Defence industry sources in Bulgaria said the country's Ministry of Defence (MoD) issued a letter of request to the DoD in December 2008 regarding the possibility of training Bulgarian air force pilots on eight retired USAF F-16 fighters.
Bulgaria would then take custody of the aircraft "free of charge" but would be required to absorb costs of USD400 million to make them fully operational, the sources said.
This would mean the MoD could procure used Western aircraft without holding a tender process.
"We are preparing an official government-to-government response to Bulgaria's request and we are unable to discuss further details of our response at this time," said Captain Michael Andrews, public affairs spokesman for the US Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.
Regarding the costs of the potential transaction, Capt Andrews would only say that, "should a nation desire to obtain material that has been declared excess to US DoD needs, this material is provided 'as is '... in most cases such material requires refurbishment to achieve operational condition and the refurbishment costs are the responsibility of the purchaser".
Officials from Gripen International, who have briefed the Bulgarian MoD on the JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft, argue that such a deal would sidestep free competition and avoid the 110 per cent industry offset requirements normally required by Sofia.
"We would like to see an open and transparent tender process in Bulgaria", said Daniel Boestad, director of Gripen International in Bulgaria. "We are open to discussions with the Bulgarian government over interim solutions."
The Bulgarian MoD did not respond to repeated Jane's enquiries regarding the potential deal.
С уважением, Exeter