The first two engines which will be used for repair of six Bulgarian MiG-29 fighter jets were delivered at the Graf Ignatievo air base on Tuesday.

This is in line with the implementation of the intergovernmental agreement signed between Bulgaria and Poland in October.

According to the agreement, six Bulgarian engines will be repaired in Poland until the middle of next year.

The cost for the maintenance will be slightly more than BGN 12 M.

Poland will loan out for temporary use two of its engines until two of the Bulgarian ones are being repaired.

Bulgaria will use the Polish engines for 24 months or 200 flight hours, whichever of the two conditions is fulfilled first.

After that, Poland will use two of the Bulgarian engines for the same duration as the Polish ones have been used.

The Polish engines will be mounted on the Bulgarian jets by specialists from the air base.

On Wednesday, two of the Bulgarian engines will be transported to Poland for their maintenance.

Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev chose to discontinue the maintenance provided by the Russian MiG as Poland had offered a lower price. By choosing Poland, Bulgaria will also be exempt from VAT as both countreis are member states of the EU.

The agreement was ratified by the Bulgarian parliament despite the threats from the Russian company that it will take legal action as Poland does not have licence to carry out the maintenance.

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