SOFIA, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The Bulgarian government here on Wednesday proposed the purchase of two multi-purpose patrol ships that should replace obsolete vessels, the cabinet said in a statement.
The two warships would have the capabilities to participate in a wide range of NATO and European Union (EU) maritime operations, the statement said.
They would replace some of the Soviet-made warships that could not be upgraded, it said.
The maximum estimated cost of the project, which also includes the supply of an initial set of spare parts, tools and accessories, training of the crews of the two ships and integrated logistics support for a period of three years, would be 984 million BGN (587 million U.S. dollars), the statement said.
On May 16, the government proposed and on June 8 the National Assembly approved projects for the purchase of 150 armored vehicles and 16 fighter jets.
