Bulgarian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet

Bulgaria will seek an offer from Boeing for its F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft to be part of the nation’s fighter jet deal to replace Soviet-designed MiG-29 aircraft.

The 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, Defence Minister Kasimir Karakachanov told broadcaster BNR Wednesday.

Interest in the Super Hornet indicates that a new major competitor could join the Bulgarian tender, under which the country is aiming to replace its Soviet-designed Mikoyan MiG-29 aircraft with Western-made fighters, Pan European Networks reported.

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.

Following this, Bulgaria was to request new proposals from Portugal, which offered second-hand F-16s, and Eurofighter Typhoons from Italy.

Should the MoD decide to select the Super Hornet, the country would become the aircraft’s first operator in Eastern Europe.