The decision was backed by 151 lawmakers, with seven voting against and one abstention.

It will allow the defence ministry to restart the investment project for acquiring at least eight new or used fighter jets for 1.8 billion leva to replace its current fleet of Soviet-built MiG-29 jets.

Out of a fleet of 15, the airforce can currently rely on just seven planes in good flying order. Safety concerns prompted its pilots to refuse to fly in a training operation last October, in a bid to speed up the new acquisitions.

A defence ministry commission had earlier reviewed offers and shortlisted Sweden's Gripen as a preferred option but the procedure has been sidetracked by the current conservative cabinet of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

The defence ministry will now seek requests for proposals from more suppliers and under reviewed requirements -- for new or used F-16s from the US, Portugal and Israel, for new or used Eurofighter Typhoons from Germany and Italy, for second-hand Rafale fighters from France, and new or used Gripen jets from Sweden.

Parliament also approved spending of 1.46 billion leva on 150 new wheeled armoured carriers for its land forces to replace the current Soviet-made BTR armoured personnel carriers and BRDM armoured vehicles.

Two US companies -- Textron and General Dynamics Land Systems -- France's Nexter Sytems, and Finland's Patria have already expressed interest in the deal.

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