November 2 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria's government said on Wednesday it approved an additional expenditure of up to 15.4 million levs ($8.7 million/7.9 million euro) under the defence ministry budget to upgrade the country's Air Force fleet of ageing Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets.
The cabinet said in a statement that it endorsed the defence ministry's proposal to spend the sum based on the investment project for ensuring the airworthiness of MiG-29 aircraft approved by the government on March 30. The expenditure is provided for in the 2016 central government budget.
The implementation of the project will create the necessary conditions for the Bulgarian Air Force to maintain and develop capabilities for air policing, as well as to implement NATO’s collective defence mechanisms and EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy, the government said.
In March, the government approved a 2.4 billion levs plan to enhance the country's defence capabilities by extending the operational lifespan of at least 10 MiG-29s, acquiring new combat aircraft and purchasing two new multi-purpose patrol ships.
The defence ministry said last month that it would hold direct talks with Sofia-based Aviostart company for the supply of 10 engines for Air Force's MiG-29s for a total price of 30 million levs ($16.68 million/15.32 million euro).
(1 euro=1.95583 levs)