Bulgarian government backtracks on Gripen selection
· 26
September, 2017 - SOURCE: FlightGlobal.com
By Alexander Mladenov and Krassimir Grozev in
Sofia
Bulgaria is
to restart its fighter procurement initiative, following recommendations made
by a parliamentary investigation board after its review of the decision to name
Saab's Gripen C/D as preferred candidate.
The review
board – which completed its work on 20 September – indicates that a combined
offer of used Lockheed Martin F-16s submitted by the governments of Portugal
and the USA was disqualified in an improper manner, preventing a fair
evaluation of all submitted bids. Sources suggest that the offer was
disqualified because a request for a deferred payment scheme failed to comply
with Sofia's requirements.
In its
report, the investigation board recommends that the defence ministry rework the
requirements contained in its request for proposals, and expand the number of
countries which will receive an invitation to participate in the
government-to-government tender. A decision on how to proceed sits with defence
minister Krasimir Karakachanov.
Bulgaria
wants to purchase two batches of eight fighters each, and had allocated €767
million ($900 million) for the first phase, also including a small package of
air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons, a simulator, logistics support and
training services.
Saab
In April, a
tender commission named the Gripen as preferred candidate, after it received
the highest score in its evaluation. An Italian government offer using Tranche
1-standard second-hand Eurofighter Typhoons was ranked in second position. A
final decision was deferred until after Bulgaria's new government entered
office in early May.
Prime
minister Boyko Borisov has questioned the need to acquire new fighters, and
suggested that the Gripen is far from the best choice for the nation, and his
centre-right GERB party has voiced its support for the option of purchasing
F-16s. The US government and Lockheed delivered an unsolicited proposal in
March 2017 promoting new-build examples in a Block 70 standard.
Bulgarian
president and former air force commander-in-chief Rumen Radev opposes Borisov's
view, and notes that the Swedish type complies with the terms of the earlier
request for proposals.
Borisov also
has suggested that Bulgaria could consider ordering a cheaper combat aircraft,
such as Textron AirLand's Scorpion – which visited the country in June 2015.
Another
factor in Bulgaria’s indecisiveness on the new fighter procurement stems from its
willingness to maintain good relations with Russia, allowing investment in
keeping its current MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-25 fleets in operational condition.
Karakachanov believes the types could fly on until around 2030.
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