MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Bulgarian government approved on Wednesday the acquisition of a squadron of new multirole fighter aircraft and two naval patrol vessels, local media reported Wednesday, citing the country’s defense minister.
The combined procurement costs amount to 3 billion Bulgarian leva (over $1.7 billion), Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev said.
The country’s government also plans to extend the lifespan of the MiG-29 fighter jets, according to The Sofia Globe news site.
The patrol boats have been chosen to enable the Bulgarian Navy to develop the skills necessary to take part in a vast array of NATO and EU maritime operations, the news outlet reported.
The modernization projects are set to become the largest in recent years, with the government pursuing the ambitious goal of bolstering the operational capabilities of the Bulgarian army and meeting the country’s collective defense commitments.
