Saturday, September 03, 2011

Bulgaria Postpones Purchase of New Fighters for Indefinite Future: Prime Minister

Bulgaria postponed purchase of new NATO-compatible multi-role fighters for an indefinite future, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said on Saturday.

"We will buy new fighters, only when it becomes extremely indispensable because of our membership in NATO," Borissov told reporters during the Eight Bulgarian International Aviation Festival (BIAF) "Sky for all" at the Krumovo Airbase near Plovdiv, some 160 km southeast of the country's capital Sofia.

The prime minister, whose country is less developed in the European Union, said its priorities now were building road infrastructure, increasing pensions and incomes of the citizens.

"Sooner or later we will have new aircraft," Borissov added.

The Balkan state, a NATO member since 2004, had planned to announce a tender for supply of "probably no more than eight" NATO-compatible multi-role fighters at no earlier than the beginning of 2012, in a bid to replace the 16 Soviet-made MiG-29 fighters that make up the backbone of the country's current air defense.

Meanwhile on Saturday at BIAF, the Bulgarian Defense Ministry and Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG signed a new framework agreement for repair and maintenance of all MiG-29s in Bulgaria.

During the BIAF, potential participants in the future tender of the Bulgarian Air Force such as Saab JAS 39 Gripen and Eurofighter Typhoon performed aerobatics. However, MiG 29M OVT with thrust-vectoring engines was most applauded by the 10,000 spectators.

The two-day BIAF ending on Sunday, that was dedicated to the 100th Anniversary of the Bulgarian military aviation, also included aerobatics performed by the Swiss Air Force PC-7 Aerobatic Team and air aces from Romania and Bulgaria.

http://english.cri.cn

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