Poland has acknowledged the risks associated with operating the remaining MiG-29s, which were previously offered to Ukraine in exchange for drone technology.
Polish MiG-29s / © Wikipedia
The Polish Ministry of Defense has admitted that the continued operation of their last MiG-29 fighter jets could pose a risk to their pilots. These were the very aircraft Warsaw had previously considered transferring to Ukraine in exchange for access to Ukrainian drone technologies.
This information was reported by Defense Express.
The discussion concerns 14 MiG-29 fighters, whose ultimate fate Polish authorities have not yet definitively decided. Among the options considered were transferring them to Ukraine or selling them to Bulgaria.
The question regarding the condition of the aircraft arose following a proposal to convert them into drones. In response, the Polish Ministry of Defense explained that maintaining these fighters further is economically unviable due to their age, changes in operational standards, and the lack of spare parts sources.
“Due to the continuous development of target operational standards and the absence of a source for spare parts, maintaining this type of aircraft within the Polish Armed Forces is economically disadvantageous and could also affect the safety of its direct users,” the ministry’s response stated.
As Defense Express notes, this effectively confirms previous unofficial assessments of the aircraft’s unsatisfactory technical condition. The MiG-29s are approximately 40 years old and are nearing their operational lifespan limits.
What This Means for Ukraine
Previously, Poland considered transferring these aircraft to Ukraine not as gratuitous aid, but as part of an agreement where Warsaw would seek to obtain Ukrainian technologies in the drone sector.
However, in the event of transferring the fighters to Ukraine, they would first need to be restored to combat readiness, if at all possible. Another option would be to use the aircraft as a source of spare parts for other MiG-29s.
Bulgaria had also reportedly shown interest in the Polish fighter jets, as it awaits new F-16 Block 70 aircraft. Meanwhile, the eight such aircraft already received by Sofia have not yet been commissioned, which is expected to happen in 2027.
Defense Express speculates that due to the condition of the Polish MiG-29s, Warsaw might ultimately find it difficult to secure a buyer or recipient for them, and in the worst-case scenario, the Polish Ministry of Defense may have to incur expenses for their disposal.
Polish MiG-29 Fighters for Ukraine: Latest News
In early July, Poland’s Minister of National Defence, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, stated that Ukraine had not provided Warsaw with the “promised” UAV production technologies in exchange for the MiG-29 fighters that Poland was prepared to transfer to Kyiv.
Subsequently, it became known that another NATO country had also approached Poland with a request concerning these aircraft. At the time, Warsaw asserted that the priority remained the transfer of the fighters to Ukraine.
The Polish Ministry of Defense also emphasized that the final decision depended on the Ukrainian side, and Warsaw’s offer regarding the MiG-29s remained valid.
Poland had also warned that if Kyiv “does not agree to the proposed option in the near future,” the fighters might be sold to Bulgaria.
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