Nine Bulgarian MiG-29 Likely to
Be Repaired in Poland
- Minister


Varna, on the Black Sea, July 9 (BTA) - Nine of Bulgaria's 19 MiG-29 aircraft need repairs and a contract is about to be signed with Poland for repair of the fighters' engines, Defence Minister Nikolai Nenchev said here Thursday.

He said that Poland is asking a price that is 1.2 million leva cheaper for each engine than Russia's rate. Poland also offers the option of payment in installments. "As we are NATO partners, the Polish contractors will repair the fighters at the price they charge for their own," said Nenchev.

He was adamant that despite the problems with the air force fleet, Bulgaria is capable of protecting its own air space at least until the middle of next year. By then at least some of the fighters will have to be repaired, he added.

The Bulgarian air force fleet also has the problem of its avionics being incompatible with the NATO equipment and the allies cannot recognize the Bulgarian MiGs as their own, the Minister said.

The Defence Minister is in Varna to visit the Bulgarian-hosted Exercise Breeze 2015. Over 30 warships and auxiliary vessels manned by 1,700 naval personnel from eight NATO member countries are taking part in the exercise.

Asked whether he expects this Black Sea exercise to sour relations between Russia and NATO, Nenchev said that the Alliance never holds unplanned exercises and that this is the 19th edition of the Breeze exercise. PK/LN/
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