The Polish president said on Wednesday that his country was ready to deliver its entire fleet of Soviet-designed MiG-29 fighters to Kyiv “in future.”
Poland, which has already supplied Ukraine with eight MiG-29s and will soon send six more, will “in future be able to transfer to Ukraine its entire fleet of MiGs”, a total of some 30 aircraft, “subject to an agreement by its allies” in NATO, Andrzej Duda said at a press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Polish head of state explained the need for the green light by the fact that the MiG-29s still in his country’s possession have been “adapted to NATO standards,” particularly with regard to communications systems and the ability to carry out allied airspace surveillance missions.
“They will still be needed” but, as new South Korean FA-50 and US F-35 aircraft ordered by Poland are expected to be delivered, the older fighters could be supplied to Kyiv.
The first of 50 FA-50 fighters are expected to arrive in Poland before the end of 2023, while the first of 32 F-35 aircraft are expected there as early as next year.
