The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of eight F-16 aircraft and related equipment to Bulgaria totaling 1.673 billion dollars, Reuters reports. The Defense and Security Cooperation Agency has already provided the Congress with required certificates for the deal.

According to the agency, the sale will improve Bulgaria's capability to meet current and future threats by enabling the Bulgarian Air Force to deploy modern fighter aircraft in the Black Sea region. AFP writes that the approval of the deal provides an opportunity to strengthen the Bulgarian military aviation in times of increased regional threat related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.