Bolivia Receives Five Offers For Fighter Aircraft Bid

Bolivia has received five offers for its fighter aircraft requirement to re-equip the armed forces, which requires a purchase of 20 fighter jets as well as 40,000 rifles, EL Deber Bolivian News daily reported Monday.

“Bolivia has received five offers, but it does not mean we will be selecting among them. We will also look at other options majorly from France, Brazil, China, Russia and Argentina apart from the offers they have received. We need two squadrons of 10 aircraft each,” Defense Minister Reymi Ferreira was quoted as saying by the daily. The names of the companies offering fighter aircrafts were not disclosed by the news daily.

Bolivia has T-33 fighter-bomber aircraft and K-8 jet trainers. The aircrafts do not have the capability nor the conditions needed to carry out effective operations. Bolivia might require an estimated US $140 million to buy both the fighters and rifles,  EL Deber Bolivian quoted defense analyst, Samuel Montano as saying.

“The Government would seek training aircraft. Both US and Europe won’t sell us fighters. The Russian or Chinese models would cost 5 to 10 million dollars for every aircraft. If we go by this, we would require $100 million and it’s too much,” Montano said.

Bolivia is also eyeing to replace rifles.  "We will seek their complete replacement by 40,000 very modern rifles; a quarter will be placed in reserve, and all the others will go to the troops," Montano said.

“A rifle of the latest generation costs about $ 1,000 per unit, including delivery. "That would mean an investment of US $40 million. And, to continue working with the FAL rifles, you have to buy a similar caliber," he added.