A Bulgarian MiG-29 refitted with twin engines from Poland is undergoing test flights after Bulgaria's parliament ratified an agreement with Poland for the repair of its ageing Soviet-era fighter jets, according to Ukraine Today.
Bulgaria's Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev says Bulgaria is trying to reduce its reliance on Russia, Ukraine Today reported.
Under the deal, which Russia is challenging, Poland is going to lend Bulgaria two jet engines for two years and repair the aging fighter-jets for an estimated EUR 6.14 million.
The agreement marks another step by Bulgaria to gradually switch to non-Russian supplies, a trend that has accelerated since the European Union - to which Bulgaria belongs - and the United States imposed sanctions on Moscow over its role in the Ukraine crisis.
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