OREANDA-NEWS. December 03, 2010. Moldova failed to sell 6 MiG-29 fighters put up for sale at the total initial price of USD8.5 million and will put them up for the new auction.  The auction to sell Mig-29 fighters in the International Airport of Marculesti planned for November 30 failed to take place due to the lack of purchasers, according to the Ministry of Defense of Moldova.

The next auction is planned to be held in 2-3 weeks. It is planned that the conditions of the auction and the initial price will remain the same. Payment for participation in the auction will amount to USD 3,000. Besides, candidates will have to pay an advance in the amount of 10% of the initial cost o the lot valued at USD 8.5 million. Vitalii Marinuta, Moldovan Minister of Defense said earlier that the planes put up for sale, which remained in the national army’s disposition after the USSR collapse, were in a non-flying state and needed repaid valued at about USD 30 million.

In his opinion, the planes should have been sold 10 years ago when they were in a good technical state. Defense Minister said the fighters would be dismantled into spare parts and given as metal scrap if they are not sold again.