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In order to improve compliance with NATO standards, Bulgaria’s Parliament approved a plan to buy IDF F-16 jets in a $2 billion deal.
Israel is in the running to replace Bulgaria’s aging MiG-29s after Sofia gave the green light to replace its Soviet-designed jets.
Bulgaria’s parliament approved the plan to buy the jets in June in order to improve its compliance with NATO standards – which it joined in 2004 – in a 3.5 billion leva (NIS 7.4 billion) military modernization project.
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US Air Force hosts 2016 Red Flag exercise with the IAF flying F-16i at Nellis Air Base, Nevada.