Defence Council Endorses Project for New Jets for Bulgarian Air Force

Bulgaria's Defence Council has approved the investment project for acquiring new fighter jets for the country's Air Force, public broadcaster BNR reported on Monday.

The decision was taken by the consultative body within the Defence Ministry last week, according to BNR.

Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev told parliament's Defence Committee on Thursday that  the project would be submitted to the government for approval in the following days.

Nenchev said earlier that BGN 80 M had been earmarked in the 2016 budget as the first instalment in the procurement of a new-multi purpose combat aircraft and the manufacturers of Eurofighter, Grippen and F-16 jets had been contacted.

The Bulgarian Air Force could have its ageing Soviet-made combat aircraft replaced by new multi-purpose warplanes in the next three to three-and-a half years, Nenchev said in January.