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By Tim McLaughlin
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Tuesday, Mar. 21 2006
Boeing Co.'s St. Louis-made F/A-18 Super Hornet figured largely in a recent
offer by the U.S. government to supply American-made fighter jets to Bulgaria.
One option would provide the former Soviet bloc country with 16 new Super
Hornets in a deal that could approach $1 billion. To date, Super Hornets, a
staple of the U.S. Navy, have not been sold to international customers.
Bulgaria, which joined NATO in 2004, is among several countries interested in
buying the plane.
Earlier this month, the Navy delivered pricing on three fighter jet options to
the Bulgarians, a Boeing spokeswoman confirmed. One package would include 16
new Super Hornets, which cost about $54 million each, and 12 used F-5s made by
Northrop Grumman Corp.
A second package would include 12 used Super Hornets and 12 used F-5s. The
third option would include 12 used Super Hornets, Boeing spokeswoman Patricia
Frost said.
Over the next eight months, Bulgaria will weigh the Super Hornet options and
evaluate other packages from rival airplane manufacturers. Boeing's competition
is expected to include Lockheed Martin Corp.'s F-16, the Eurofighter and
Dassault Aviation SA's Rafael jet. Last year, Boeing's F-15 beat the Rafael in
a competition to supply fighters to Singapore.
First delivery of the combat planes selected by Bulgaria is expected to happen
by 2010. The U.S. government will handle any negotiations concerning
American-made planes.
Slightly larger than Tennessee, Bulgaria is expected to use the jets to patrol
the Black Sea region. The country is making plans to upgrade its fleet of
Russian-made combat planes.
The Super Hornet also is being considered by Malaysia, India, Japan and
Switzerland, Frost said.
The first production model of the Super Hornet was delivered to the Navy in
1998. The Navy plans to buy a minimum of 460 of the planes through 2012.
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Tuesday, Mar. 21 2006
Boeing Co.'s St. Louis-made F/A-18 Super Hornet figured largely in a recent
offer by the U.S. government to supply American-made fighter jets to Bulgaria.
One option would provide the former Soviet bloc country with 16 new Super
Hornets in a deal that could approach $1 billion. To date, Super Hornets, a
staple of the U.S. Navy, have not been sold to international customers.
Bulgaria, which joined NATO in 2004, is among several countries interested in
buying the plane.
Earlier this month, the Navy delivered pricing on three fighter jet options to
the Bulgarians, a Boeing spokeswoman confirmed. One package would include 16
new Super Hornets, which cost about $54 million each, and 12 used F-5s made by
Northrop Grumman Corp.
A second package would include 12 used Super Hornets and 12 used F-5s. The
third option would include 12 used Super Hornets, Boeing spokeswoman Patricia
Frost said.
Over the next eight months, Bulgaria will weigh the Super Hornet options and
evaluate other packages from rival airplane manufacturers. Boeing's competition
is expected to include Lockheed Martin Corp.'s F-16, the Eurofighter and
Dassault Aviation SA's Rafael jet. Last year, Boeing's F-15 beat the Rafael in
a competition to supply fighters to Singapore.
First delivery of the combat planes selected by Bulgaria is expected to happen
by 2010. The U.S. government will handle any negotiations concerning
American-made planes.
Slightly larger than Tennessee, Bulgaria is expected to use the jets to patrol
the Black Sea region. The country is making plans to upgrade its fleet of
Russian-made combat planes.
The Super Hornet also is being considered by Malaysia, India, Japan and
Switzerland, Frost said.
The first production model of the Super Hornet was delivered to the Navy in
1998. The Navy plans to buy a minimum of 460 of the planes through 2012.
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