| Hungary will not upgrade the Russian Mig-29 fighter jets the country's air force is armed with, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in a statement.
According to him, the move would violate Hungary's international obligations and "the country's economic and other interests in the long term." By the end of the month, Budapest is to reach a decision on the international tenders invited to upgrade the Hungarian Air Forces. The government will settle for 'the cheapest' option, the Hungarian premier said in a traditional radio interview.
Tenders to sell modern fighter jets to Hungary have been submitted by the US, Sweden, and Russia. Turkey jumped on the bandwagon in the last few days. A number of Hungarian defense analysts believe upgrading the existing Russian jets and buying new ones from Russia would be the most cost-efficient and reliable way to enhance the air force's combat readiness.
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