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World Defense & Security News - Bulgaria
 
 
Bulgaria issues RFP for the purchase of eight fighter jets
 
Bulgaria issued yesterday Dec. 12 a RFP for the purchase of eight new or second-hand fighter jets. The country already asked Italy, Portugal, the United States to make offers to deliver them. The Bulgarian parliament already approved this $808 mn program, which aims to replace the country's ageing MiG-29 fighters and would improve compliance with NATO standards.
     
Bulgaria issues RFP for the purchase of eight fighter jets 640 001A Bulgarian Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29A takes off from the runway from the runway of Graf Ignatievo Air ForceBase, Bulgaria, during Operation "Thracian Star" on 13 October 2010
(Credit: USAF/Staff Sgt. Benjamin Wilson)
     
"The ministers of defence and the economy have signed a request of proposal for the delivery of multipurpose jet fighters," the defence ministry announced in an official statement. The four countries will have until March 2017 to submit their proposals.

The defense ministry previously said that it was looking into buying second-hand US-made F-16 fighters from Portugal, new JAS-39 Gipens from Sweden or used Italian Eurofighter Typhoon jets.

A second phase, which would be launched in 2022-2023, will include the purchase of eight more fighters.

In November 2015, Bulgaria signed a contract with a local company to supply the Air Force with four new and six repaired Russian RD-33 engines for its fleet of nine MiG-29 fighter jets.