Bulgarian Defence Minister Anyu Angelov has said that the government will issue a tender in 2011 for the purchase of new fighter jets worth BGN1bn ($707m) for the air force.

The defence ministry will purchase the new fighter jets to replace the aging MiG-21 aircraft and modernise MiG-29s.

The government is expected to select from F-16, Eurofighter Typhoon or Gripen when it decides to purchase its new multipurpose fighter jets.

The new fighter plane will be selected by mid 2012, and the delivery will begin in 2015, according to novinite.com.