Bulgarian Watchdog Rejects Ukrimash’s Appeal to Stop Fighter Jet Overhaul Deal with Russian MiG

Bulgarian Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC), an anti-monopoly watchdog has rejected Ukrainian arms firm Ukrinmash’s appeal to stop $50.2 million worth fighter jet overhaul deal with Russian MiG.

The decision of the Commission for the Protection of Competition can be appealed within three days of notification; CPC was quoted as saying in a statement by Reuters on Tuesday.

Bulgaria had requested MiG to overhaul and maintain its 15 ageing MiG-29 fighter aircraft for a period of four years.

Bulgaria decided to rewrite the requirements and request for bidders for offers on fighter jet acquisition to replace the MiG-29 fleet in September this year. The parliament decided for a rewrite after the Prime Minister Boiko Borissov voiced doubt over Gripen as the best choice for new fighter jet.

The defense ministry will have to virtually restart the process and is yet to send requests for proposals to aircraft makers, Reuters had reported last month.

he MoD is seeking the offer in addition to the three main competitors for the deal, adding that requests for proposals are expected to be sent to manufacturers this month, Karakachan had said in November.

Defence Minister Krasimir Karakachanov has previously said the ministry will re-launch its tender to purchase with aircraft after a special committee of the Bulgarian parliament released a report calling on the Cabinet to re-launch the tender.