Mikoyan MiG-29

Bulgaria will kickstart an acquisition process for a new multipurpose combat aircraft by the end of next month, Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev has said.

The Defence Ministry will submit the respective proposal to the government by 30 June, BGNES news outlet quoted Nenchev as saying on Thursday following a meeting of the parliament's defence committee.

A Bulgarian-US military training "Thracian Eagle-2" starts Monday at the Graf Ignatievo airbase and will continue until end-June.

The training is a part of Operation Atlantic Resolve of the United States Air Force aimed at guaranteeing the security of NATO allies, according to the Bulgarian National Radio.

Bulgaria may be forced to revise its 2015 budget towards the end of the year to provide funding for a potential repair of some of its ageing Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets, Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev has said.

Bulgaria's prosecuting authority is launching an inspection in connection with an interview of Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev in which he states that he has been offered a bribe.

Bulgarian Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev announced that the country's air force could retire its MiG-29 fighter jets in September.

The current contract for maintenance of the jets expires on September 9 and Nenchev refuses to sign a new one, as he deems that the Russian offer is unfavourable.

Serbia and Russia to conduct air force drills

MOSCOW -- Military pilots from Russia and Serbia will conduct joint training exercises in September 2015, the Russian Defense Ministry has announced.

Repair works on the MiG fighter jets that are currently part of Bulgaria's aircraft fleet are quite expensive to repair, Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev asserted Friday answering to a question in Parliament.

Pakistan is to make its own proposal to Bulgaria concerning the overhaul of its aircraft fleet, media reports suggest.

Currently the US, Italy and Sweden have been bidding to answer Bulgaria's need to have a squadron of 16 fighter jets replacing the existing one which is made up of Russian-made outdated MiGs.

Poland is ready to provide servicing for Bulgaria's Russian-made MiG-29 fighter aircraft, Polish Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak has said.

Bulgarian Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev is due to hold talks with Poland's Deputy PM and Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak on Monday, February 16.