site.btaDefence Ministry to Invite More Companies to Submit Offers for Purchase of Jet Fighters

Plovdiv, Southern Bulgaria, March 19 (BTA) - Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Krassimir Karakachanov said here on Monday that he mulls inviting "all aircraft manufacturers who can offer both new or used aircraft". These will include the hitherto candidates Eurofighter, Gripen and F-16, "but we also have a letter from Boeign about F-18," Karakachanov said. The Minister said that Israel too will be approached for an offer "as the country has abilities". "Croatia purchased from Israel an entire air unit," Karakachanov said, adding that the matter concerns F-16 (Block 30) which are newer that what has been offered Bulgaria so far.

The Defence Minister said that the big projects for the modernization of the Bulgarian Armed Forces are to be re-submitted to the Council of Ministers and fit within the expenditure that has been approved. In Karakachanov's words, the postponement of the projects will not make them more expensive. He noted that the expenditure for jet fighters was approved back in 2016.

Karakachanov expects that the projects will be promptly considered by the Council of Ministers and if voted by the Parliament by the end of April, "bidders can submit their offers".

Dwelling on the projects in the Navy, Karakachanov said that "due to the refusal of the company, the old project will be updated, but first, the one about the modernization of the available frigates will be implemented".

In Plovdiv the Defence Minister attended the celebrations of the 68th Special Forces Brigade marking the 75th anniversary of the Parachute Company and the creation of the Special Operations Forces.