Bulgaria Requests Russia to Overhaul 15 Aged Mig-29 Fighters for $49 Million

Bulgaria has requested Russian MiG to overhaul and maintain its 15 ageing MiG-29 fighter aircraft for $49 million for a period of four years.

Bulgaria decided to rewrite the requirements and request for bidders for offers on fighter jet acquisition to replace the MiG-29 fleet in September this year. The parliament decided for a rewrite after the Prime Minister Boiko Borissov voiced doubt over Gripen as the best choice for new fighter jet.

The defense ministry will have to virtually restart the process and is yet to send requests for proposals to aircraft makers, Reuters reported Monday.

The MoD is seeking the offer in addition to the three main competitors for the deal, adding that requests for proposals are expected to be sent to manufacturers this month, Karakachanov had said in November.

Defence Minister Krasimir Karakachanov has previously said the ministry will re-launch its tender to purchase with aircraft after a special committee of the Bulgarian parliament released a report calling on the Cabinet to re-launch the tender.

Following this, Bulgaria was to request new proposals from Portugal, which offered second-hand F-16s, and Eurofighter Typhoons from Italy.

Should the MoD decide to select the Super Hornet, the country would become the aircraft’s first operator in Eastern Europe.