Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1536266
Together, these aircraft will constitute a Western‑built multi‑role fighter squadron at Graf Ignatievo's 3rd Air Base, which has recently undergone modernization efforts. Bulgaria is the third European nation to commence Block 70 deliveries, and both Bulgaria and Slovakia may pursue further acquisitions to bolster their combat aircraft fleets amidst regional geopolitical tensions. On the same day as the European deliveries, the U.S. State Department announced its approval of a request from the Philippines to purchase F‑16C/D Block 70/72 multi‑role fighters. Manila is seeking sixteen single‑seat F‑16Cs and four two‑seat F‑16Ds, along with four spare engines and a comprehensive suite of spares and support equipment, including two AN/ APG‑83 SABR (Scalable Agile Beam Radar) advanced electronically scanned array (AESA) radars. The proposed package also encompasses twelve AN/ AAQ‑33 Sniper advanced targeting pods, 112 AIM‑120C‑8 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium‑Range Air‑to‑Air Missiles), 36 GBU‑39/B SDB I (Small Diameter Bombs Increment 1) precision‑guided munitions, 40 AIM‑9X Sidewinder Block II short‑range air‑to‑air missiles, 120 Mk 82 and Mk 84 general‑purpose bombs (with conversion kits to guided variants), full‑scale mockups for training, training devices and simulators, comprehensive AVIATION