Russian Maker of MiG-29s Could Challenge Bulgarian-Polish Deal for Jets' Repair

Russian aircraft corporation RSK MiG has said it could challenge an agreement for the repair of Bulgarian Air Force MiG-29 jet fighters by Poland because the deal violated the company's rights.

"The agreement between Bulgaria and Poland not only contravenes the norms of international law and the established practice in military aviation, it also runs counter to the principle of ensuring the safety of flights," TASS quoted the Russian manufacturer of the warplanes as saying in a statement on Thursday.

"We are considering a possibility to challenge the agreement in view of the obvious encroachment on our rights as the developer and manufacturer of MiG aircraft."

RSK MiG also warned that a repair of "one of today's most reliable combat aircraft" by unqualified personnel in the absence of the original developer and manufacturer  would most probably ground the entire Bulgarian fleet of MiG-29s.  

Russia will stop the maintenance of Bulgarian Air Force MiG-29s, if the government in Sofia signs a deal with Poland for the repair of their engines, Sergei Korotkov, RSK MiG Director General warned last week.

Poland will repair six engines of Bulgarian Air Force MiG-29 by the middle of next year under a deal signed in Warsaw earlier on Thursday between the defence ministers of the two EU and NATO member states.