Problems with the infrastructure at the "Graf Ignatievo" airbase may cause trouble for the reception of the new F-16 Block 70 fighters, the first planes are expected next year, a BGNES reporter reported, referring to the report of the Ministry of Defense on the state of the Bulgarian army.
The Ministry of Defense is grappling with huge delays in infrastructure projects for the operation of the new aircraft. The Ministry tries to prioritize the most important projects to get closer to the required standard as quickly as possible.
Only 5 contracts have completed construction, while 23 are in various stages of implementation.
There are also problems with the drainage of the runway.
“Late 2023 drainage problems were reported on the runway. The proposed additional activities are estimated at nearly BGN 50 million," reports the Ministry of Defense.
The preparation of the airports in Krumovo and Bezmer continues.
"The many corrections to the design assignments under the concluded contracts are one of the reasons why there are still no completed and accepted Investment Projects for some of the sites."
The "lethargy" in the MoD puts the new fighters in a situation where when they are ready, there will be nowhere for them to go. This may result in the need to pay rent for the storage of the machines.
The ministry is trying to expedite "various sites in such an order that the important sites are completed in time for the acceptance of the aircraft." This also includes the termination of some of the contracts and the re-organization of procedures for conclusion and implementation, which further delays the process. /BGNES
