Arms Sales Notification — Government of Bulgaria
Key claim: The US Defense Department notified Congress of an enhancement or upgrade of technology/capability for the previously approved F-16 Block 70 aircraft and munitions sale to the Government of Bulgaria.
Abstract
(Notice · Defense Department) The Department of War (DoW) is publishing the unclassified text of an arms sales notification.
AGENCY: Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), Department of Defense (DoD). ACTION: Arms sales notice.
SUMMARY: The Department of War (DoW) is publishing the unclassified text of an arms sales notification. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Urooj Zahra at (703) 695-6233, [email protected] , or [email protected] . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 36(b) arms sales notification is published to fulfill the requirements of section 155 of Public Law 104- 164 dated July 21, 1996. The following is a copy of the attached Transmittal 26-0Q. Dated: May 28, 2026. Stephanie J. Bost, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. Transmittal No. 26-0Q REPORT OF ENHANCEMENT OR UPGRADE OF SENSITIVITY OF TECHNOLOGY OR CAPABILITY (SEC. 36(B)(5)©, AECA) (i) Prospective Purchaser: Government of Bulgaria (ii) Sec. 36(b)(1), AECA Transmittal No.: 22-14 Date: April 4, 2022 Implementing Agency: Air Force Funding Source: National Funds (iii) Description: On April 4, 2022, Congress was notified by Congressional certification transmittal number 22-14 of the possible sale under Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, of four (4) F-16 C Block 70 aircraft; four (4) F-16 D Block 70 aircraft; eleven (11) F100-GE-129D engines (8 installed, 3 spares); eleven (11) Improved Programmable Display Generators (8 installed, 3 spares); eleven (11) AN/APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array Scalable Agile Beam Radars (8 installed, 3 spares); eleven (11) Modular Mission Computers 7000AH (8 installed, 3 spares); eleven (11) LN-260 or equivalent Embedded Global Positioning System Inertial Navigation Systems with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module and Precise Positioning Service (8 installed, 3 spares); nineteen (19) Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) AIM-120C-7/C-8 or equivalent missiles; two (2) AMRAAM guidance sections; forty-eight (48) LAU-129A launchers (40 installed, 8 spares); twenty-eight (28) GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs (SDBs); two (2) SDB Guided Test Vehicles; eleven (11) M61A1 Vulcan cannons (8 installed, 3 spares); four (4) AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods; twelve (12) Multifunctional Information Distribution System with Joint Tactical Radio Systems (aircraft terminals and ground station terminals) (10 installed, 2 spares); twenty (20) AIM-9X Block II missiles; eight (8) AIM-9X Block II Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs); four (4) AIM-9X Block
Why this matters
Bulgaria’s F-16 Block 70 program is a central pillar of its NATO-interoperable air force modernization and a recurring line item in US-Europe security assistance. A Section 36(b)(5)© enhancement notification signals that the scope of an existing FMS case is expanding in capability or technology, which is tracked separately from initial DSCA notifications and affects the operative value and content of the sale.