Poland has determined to switch its remaining MiG-29s to Ukraine, with talks underway for the supply of the primary batch, in trade for know-how on drone know-how.
The Polish authorities confirmed it plans to switch the Polish Air Power’s MiG-29 Fulcrums to Ukraine, following talks between the 2 nations. The event, introduced by Deputy Protection Minister Paweł Zalewski to the Polish information channel TVP World and reported by Polish information outlet Interia, follows the disclosure in December 2025 of the continuing negotiations by the Common Employees of the Polish Armed Forces.
As we reported right here at The Aviationist on that event, the assertion specified that the MiG-29 switch is “associated to the plane reaching their goal operational lifespans and the dearth of prospects for his or her additional modernization inside the Polish Armed Forces.” The army nevertheless harassed that this won’t trigger a functionality hole because the roles of the MiG-29 fleet shall be taken over by the F-16 and FA-50.
W tej spokojnej i niezwykle chwili, którą tym razem to… ja mogłem wykreować, gdzie harmonia światła i przestrzeni pozwalała dostrzec w lotnictwie nie tylko technikę… lecz także subtelne piękno ulotnych momentów ✨✈️#gawronsky #MiG29 #AviationPhotography #PolishAirForce pic.twitter.com/7uZDbxHtIU
— gawronsky.com (@m_gawronski) December 2, 2025
The Switch
After earlier transfers of MiG-29s in 2023 and 2024, Poland has nonetheless 14 airframes in service, in line with statements by Minister of Protection Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, with stories additional specifying 11 are single-seater jets and the remaining three are twin-seater jets. In 2022, at first of the battle in Ukraine, Poland operated a fleet of 28 MiG-29s.
Poland beforehand said its will to switch all the fleet to Ukraine, with the plane changed by F-35s and FA-50s. With the plane now being delivered, the nation’s air pressure can switch the remaining Fulcrums with out functionality gaps.
In accordance with Deputy Minister of Protection Paweł Zalewski, technical talks are at present underway with the Ukrainian Ministry of Protection regarding logistics, upkeep and the switch of the plane. It seems the plane shall be transferred in two batches, with the primary together with “fewer than ten” plane.
The MiG-29 Fulcrum has a strategic significance for the Ukrainian Air Power, as its pilots can function it as instantly after supply, with out additional coaching. This isn’t true for different varieties such because the F-16, which requires pilots to go overseas for coaching, decreasing the variety of pilots on the frontlines.
MiG-29 of the Ukrainian Air Power pic.twitter.com/wojHrpdbj0
— Ukrainian Air Power (@KpsZSU) December 24, 2025
As beforehand talked about in December 2025, Poland will obtain know-how on drone and missile know-how by Ukraine in trade for the MiG-29s. “The objective just isn’t solely to compensate for the lack of gear, however primarily to amass and collectively develop new protection and industrial competencies,” learn the assertion in December.
Earlier Transfers
In 2022, Poland negotiated the switch of the MiG-29s by way of the U.S. authorities. The preliminary proposal was to maneuver all Polish MiG-29s to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, from the place the U.S. would make them obtainable to Ukraine.
In trade, Poland requested for the availability of second-hand plane to exchange the capabilities it might lose by making a gift of the MiGs. That switch finally didn’t happen, because the Pentagon later mentioned it might not assist it, after initially saying it might give the inexperienced mild.
A 12 months later, in March 2023, Poland grew to become the primary nation to donate plane to Ukraine when Polish President Andrzej Duda introduced the switch of 4 MiG-29s. A month later, the German authorities gave Poland the go forward to switch 5 MiG-29s to Ukraine.
Ukrainian Air Power MiG-29 releasing AASM-HAMMER guided bombs pic.twitter.com/1H9TDcMas9
— Ukrainian Air Power (@KpsZSU) June 18, 2025
The German approval was required as a result of the plane have been a part of the MiG-29Gs previously operated by the East German Armed Forces and offered to Poland in 2003. The truth is, Poland, which earlier owned NATO’s largest MiG-29 fleet, acquired its Fulcrums from totally different sources.
In 1989, Poland acquired its first 12 MiG-29, a mixture of 9 single-seater MiG-29 9.12 and twin-seater MiG-29UB jets. The fleet was first elevated ranging from 1995 with the acquisition of 10 extra plane – 9 9.12s and one UB – from the Czech Republic.
We’re working pic.twitter.com/2MoBFRbrKr
— Ukrainian Air Power (@KpsZSU) July 16, 2025
Then, in 2003, Poland acquired for the symbolic worth of €1 per plane 22 upgraded German MiG-29s, of which 18 single-seaters and 4 twin-seaters. Poland then launched in 2011 an improve program for its MiG-29s to higher combine with the F-16.
A few of these upgraded plane have been additionally seen in Ukrainian movies of the Fulcrum’s fight employment. Ukraine is at present reported to have round 40 MiG-29s serving in three brigades, with the kind being probably the most quite a few in service.
