“A letter was sent to Lockheed Martin at the end of August asking for information, not a letter for starting a procedure for the initiation of negotiations on new fighter aircraft. The enquiry concerned availability, terms and prices of aircraft but also of three-coordinate radars. Information has been requested of the American side, but also of other leading companies and some have already answered,” said Minister of Defence Krasimir Karakachanov in Plovdiv.

“The government will only decide under what conditions the next fighters will be purchased after 2024 when the first 8 aircraft have been received. Parliament has approved the project for 16 planes, the next 8 will be on deferred settlement terms,” Minister Karakachanov said, the BNR reports.