Bulgaria approves 28 mln euro spendig on MiG-29s
SOFIA (Bulgaria), November 23 (SeeNews) – Bulgaria’s government said on Wednesday it approved an additional expenditure of up to 54.6 million levs ($29.6 million/27.9 million euro) under the defence ministry budget to ensure the airworthiness of the country’s Air Force fleet of ageing Russian-made MiG-29 fighter jets.
The implementation of the project will create the necessary conditions for the Bulgarian Air Force to maintain and develop capabilities for air policing, as well as to implement NATO’s collective defence mechanisms and EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy, the government said in a statement following a weekly meeting.
The sum represents the second tranche of spending for the overhaul of MiG-29 fighter aircraft provided for in 2016 central government budget.
On November 2, approved the first tranche in the amount of up to 15.4 million levs. A week later, the defence ministry said it had signed a 42.7 million levs contract for the supply of 10 engines for the MiG-29s.
In September, the defence ministry launched a tender for the delivery of jet fuel for the Air Force with an indicative value of 29.4 million levs.
In March, the government approved a 2.4 billion levs plan to enhance Bulgaria’s defence capabilities by extending the operational lifespan of at least 10 MiG-29s, acquiring new combat aircraft and purchasing two new multi-purpose patrol ships.
