The US State Department has approved a potential sale to Bulgaria of up to eight F-16s and related equipment in a $1.673 billion deal, the Pentagon said. The main contractor will be Lockheed Martin.

US officials said the sale deal was not directly related to the Ukraine crisis, prompting Kyiv to approach countries that have Russian-made MiG aircraft, including Bulgaria, to transfer them to Ukraine.

Theoretically, these MiGs will be replaced by American F-16s. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said he would not characterize the sale as a replacement.

A source familiar with the matter said the sale has little to do with the war in Ukraine as part of Bulgaria's years-long effort to modernize and upgrade its air force and improve interoperability with NATO allies.

Another source, an acquaintance, noted that the planes are new, so they will be ready for delivery within three to four years.