Poland may transfer 14 more MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine

The Republic of Poland will consider the possibility of providing Ukraine with at least one additional MiG-29 squadron.

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The decision concerns at least 14 fighter jets, which, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, were included in the discussion during the signing of the security guarantee agreement between the two countries. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk explained that in the near future, these fighters will remain part of the Polish Air Force, as they are currently actively used to patrol the skies as part of the NATO programme.

Recently, Polish troops handed over 14 MiG-29s to Ukraine, but the transfer required approval from Germany, which had once handed over these aircraft to Poland. In 2002, Germany sold 23 MiG-29 fighters to Poland, which the Bundeswehr inherited from the socialist past.

Today, Poland still has 11 MiG-29A fighters and 3 MiG-29UBs in service, a total of 14 aircraft. However, these aircraft are already outdated, so the airspace is protected by F-16s.

In 2026, the Polish Army will start receiving modern American F-35 Lightning II fighters. The country signed a contract for the purchase of 32 F-35 Lightning II aircraft on 31 January 2020. The contract is worth $4.6 billion.

Source: President of Ukraine