A public procurement for the repair of up to ten engines for MiG-29 aircraft has been terminated, as not a single application for participation has been submitted. This is recorded in a decision by the acting Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov, published in the Register of Public Procurement, BTA wrote.
At the beginning of the year, the Ministry of Defense (MO) announced a public procurement for repairs for just over 21 million euros.
This is not the first public procurement for the repair of MiG-29 engines. At the end of 2024, a contract was signed with the Polish state-owned company Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr 2 S.A.
At the end of 2025, Atanas Zapryanov said that according to the plan, the F-16 fighters will reach operational readiness in 2028, and until then the MiG-29 aircraft must be maintained. If we want to have national means to protect the airspace, we will have to maintain the MiG-29 fighters, he said. Poland is already starting to experience difficulties in maintaining the MiG-29, and we rely on them. When one does not think in the long term, keeping the MiG-29 for so long and delaying the conclusion of a contract for a NATO aircraft – this is the result, Zapryanov explained.
MiG-29 and Su-25
The estimated operating costs of the MiG-29 and Su-25 aircraft in 2026 total just over 114 million leva, Zapryanov said at the end of 2025.
For the MiG-29 aircraft - 86,457,750 leva, and for the Su-25 - 27,605,345 leva. The estimates were made for services and supplies based on the annual planning and operational statistics for both types of aircraft, Zapryanov added.
To maintain operational capabilities by the Air Force with MiG-29 and Su-25 aircraft, the annual costs related to their operation in 2024 and until October 31, 2025, are amounting to just over 104 million leva.
F-16 fighter jets
In early 2025, the delivery of the first eight F-16 fighter jets began under the first contract with the US from 2019, and on December 18, all eight aircraft were presented at an official ceremony. Our Air Force (AF) is expected to have one F-16 Block 70 squadron by the end of 2027, when eight more aircraft are expected to be delivered under the second contract.
Over Sofia yesterday, Bulgarian F-16s flew low over Sofia during training flights.