Eastern European delays
- Robin Polderman
- Jun 2
- 3 min read
Report by Robin Polderman
Following the outbreak of war in Ukraine, in February 2022, a number of countries in the region have moved quickly in order to bolster their armed forces. In a few cases, contracts were signed with companies that promised swift deliveries of aircraft, but some of these deals seem to have backfired.
Poland, urgently on the look out for a combat aircraft to replace its ageing fleet of MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-22 Fitter aircraft, opted for the Korean-built KAI FA-50 since ordering additional F-16 or F-35 aircraft would mean receiving these towards the end of the decade. KAI promised swift delivery of an initial dozen FA-50GF (Gap Filler) aircraft, essentially diverted aircraft from a ROKAF order for the TA-50 Block II. A further 36 FA-50PL aircraft, having AIM-9X capability, an AESA radar and enhanced avionics (including Advanced IFF and Link 16), would follow, with deliveries of these starting in 2025.
Where the dozen FA-50GF aircraft were delivered on time, the introduction of the FA-50PL has been postponed. First arrival in Poland is now set for mid-2027, a delay of roughly 18 months.
Apparently, US permission is needed for the implementation of certain weapons, systems and software on these new jets, and KAI is still waiting for approval. On top of that, certain components seem to suffer from supply chain issues and are simply not available currently.
The issue with components and spare parts also seems to have hampered the fleet of 12 FA-50GFs, which suffered from bad serviceability. Improvements were made by KAI, and since the end of 2024 the availability of aircraft for the daily flying program at Minsk Mazowiecki airbase has increased.
Another country suffering from delays in the delivery of additional aircraft is Slovakia. Following the order for nine UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters which were delivered starting in 2017, the Slovaks decided to obtain more of the type in order to replace the last remaining Mi-17 helicopters in service.
Initially it seemed Slovakia would be ordering secondhand Bell AH-1Z Cobra helicopters after the US Government made a proposal. However, the country eventually declined the US$550 million offer and signed a US$150 million contract with ACE Aeronautics in Alabama for the delivery of twelve refurbished UH-60L Black Hawks.
The refurbishment of the dozen UH-60L aircraft apparently faces delays following problems with the integration of an advanced missile warning system. Delivery of the helicopters to Slovakia is said to have been pushed back to at least 2026.
Bulgaria, located on the Black Sea directly across the Crimea, had anticipated delivery of its first of sixteen Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 70 aircraft somewhere during 2023. However, supply chain problems following COVID as well as relocation of the production facility from Fort Worth to Greenville, SC, have not done the production pace of the F-16 any good. The first Bulgarian F-16D, serial 301, arrived at Graf Ignatievo airbase only on 3 April 2025. It made its first flight in Bulgarian skies on 28 May 2025.
The delay in F-16 deliveries means a handful of MiG-29s (received in 1989), is still responsible for the policing of Bulgaria’s skies. More deliveries of Bulgarian F-16s are scheduled to take place soon with the first batch of eight expected in country before the end of 2025.
