OUR N E W   W E B   S I T E   "WORLD AIR FORCE NEWS"
 
  
 
 

WORLD AIR WAR HISTORY


 
  HOME > EUROPEAN AIR FORCE NEWS >

Bulgaria's government approves plan to buy up to 19 fighter jets

Bulgaria's government approves plan to buy up to 19 fighter jets

Bulgaria's government approved on Wednesday a long-delayed project to buy up to 19 fighter jets, which will help to revamp its air force, improve its compliance with NATO standards and reduce its reliance on Russian-made aircraft.

Bulgaria will open a tender for the jets after parliament gives final approval for the deal, estimated to be worth 800 million to 900 million levs ($464 million to $522 million). It has yet to decide whether to seek new or second-hand planes, Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev said.

"We intend to buy a whole squadron - between 12 and 19 fighter jets," Nenchev told reporters after the government's nod on the plan.

The ministry has said it has been looking into buying either second-hand U.S. F-16s, new jets from Sweden's Gripen, produced by SAAB or the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Bulgaria, a member of both NATO and the European Union, aims to replace its aging Soviet-designed MiG-29 fighters with new aircraft in an effort to decrease its reliance on Russia. It has signed a deal with NATO ally Poland for repairs and hopes to have 12 of the new jets fully operational in several months.

A final decision on the purchase has been expected for years. Several successive cash-strapped governments have failed to set money aside.

The government also approved investment projects, which concern the extension of the lifespan of the MiG-29s and the acquisition of new multi-functional module patrol ship.

($1 = 1.7263 leva) (Reporting by Angel Krasimirov, editing by Larry King)

Source: by finance.yahoo.com, March 30 (Reuters) - March 30, 2016

Photo: Bulgarian Air Force MiG-29 (37) fighter jet in 2012 (Photo by sofiaglobe.com)


(4.04.2016)


 
  CONTINENTAL NEWS:

American Air Force News
African Air Force News
Asian Air Force News
European Air Force News
Middle Eastern AF News
Ocean Air Force News


• Turkey-Slovakia Close Air Support Cooperation

(13.10.2021)
NATO Advanced Air Controller Training Completed Successfully....>>

• Want to be a fighter pilot? Here's what you'll need on your application

(25.11.2020)
In this video, US Air Force Maj. Justin "Hasard" Lee breaks down what requirements you'll need to meet in order to pursue a career as a fighter pilot in jets like the F-15 Eagle,...>>

• Greek Air Force to upgrade its fleet of Mirage 2000-5s

(24.12.2019)
Greece’s Defence Ministry announced the signing of an agreement with three French companies for the upgrading of the Hellenic Air Force’s fleet of Mirage 2000-5 warplanes....>>

• NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance Aircraft Completes Successful Ferry Flight

(21.11.2019)
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) successfully ferried the first of five NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) aircraft, via a non-stop, 22-hour transatlantic flight....>>

• Special Forces Cessna 172RG Cutlass for Lithuanian Air Force

(25.10.2019)
Cessna 172RG Cutlass RG II ‘77 Blue’ is a recent addition to the Karin e˙ s oro paj e˙ gos (KOP, Lithuanian Air Force) order of battle....>>

• A guide to the RAF Boeing-E-7 Wedgetail

(27.06.2019)
The E-7 Wedgetail provides one of the most advanced air battlespace management capabilities in the world and the Royal Air Force have just purchased five of them...>>

• The Czech Army took over three two-seat L-159T2 aircraft

(7.06.2019)
AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE a.s. delivered to the Czech Army three two-seat L-159T2 aircraft improved by a number of major upgrades to meet the new requirements of the Czech Air Force...>>

 



       info@xairforces.net Webmaster: REFLX DESIGN - © 2011 xairforces / Aviation Society,