Poland and Ukraine are in talks regarding the transfer of the last MiG-29 fighter jets still in operation with the Polish Air Force, according to the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces.
These aircraft, used by the country for decades, are approaching the end of their maximum service life and lack clear prospects for modernization, which reinforces the debate about their future.
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Despite progress in negotiations, the General Staff stresses that no final decision has been made yet. If carried out, the transfer will align with NATO’s broader strategy to strengthen the Alliance’s eastern flank and increase military support for Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict.
Renewal of the Polish fleet and the role of the F-16 and FA-50
With the potential retirement of the MiG-29s, the missions they currently perform would be taken over by more modern platforms, including the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the newly acquired South Korean FA-50s, which are gradually replacing Soviet-era equipment still in service in Poland.
As of 2025, the Polish inventory includes 11 MiG-29A and 3 MiG-29UB aircraft, for a total of 14 active jets. They continue to be used in Baltic air policing missions. In late October, two Polish MiG-29s intercepted a Russian Il-20 aircraft over the Baltic Sea, following NATO’s air-response protocols.
Compensation mechanisms and technological cooperation
Alongside the main negotiations concerning the fighter jets, Warsaw and Kyiv are also discussing compensation mechanisms. Ukraine may offer Poland technologies in the fields of drones and missile systems—areas in which the country has developed notable capabilities since the beginning of the war. The proposal aims not only to offset Poland’s removal of equipment but also to strengthen the defense industries of both nations and expand joint capabilities.
Negotiation context
Talks regarding a possible transfer of the remaining MiG-29s began in July 2024, but gained new momentum in 2025 due to Ukraine’s operational needs and Poland’s transition to Western aircraft.
The initiative reinforces a trend already observed within the Atlantic Alliance: the shift of Soviet-origin equipment to Ukraine while NATO members advance modernization and standardization processes within their air forces.
Source and images: General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces | Twitter @SztabGenWP | Militarnyi. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
