Kraków 2022-03-14
MiG-29 for Ukraine. 2022 year.
Polish MiG-29 planes for Ukraine?
On February 27, 2022 (Sunday), the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (i.e. the head of EU diplomacy), Josep Borrell, announced that EU foreign ministers agreed to send EUR 450 million in military aid for offensive weapons to Ukraine . During this press conference in Brussels, Josep Borrell said that “The EU military aid package may include the supply of fighters to the Ukrainian air force. The head of EU diplomacy said that the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, asked for such aircraft that could be used by his country’s air force. These are post-Soviet models, mainly MiG-i and Suchoje. There are countries in the Union that have such machines and are able to deliver them. " said Mr Josep Borrell.
It might be funny, but it’s not. Mr. Josep Borrell spoke openly here, in public, about combat aircraft, like old Volkswagen Golfs with gas installations, and that, in principle, everything is settled. It was a crude release of Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria and Poland. Because these countries still have such planes. These types of matters are discussed secretly in a group of specialists and it takes several months.
But that was just the beginning of letting Poland into the swamp. Fortunately, the Polish government acted very sober and, as a result, on March 9, 2022, the US administration cut the subject off.
Let’s look at some more facts.
After Mr. Josep Borrell’s declaration, the Polish-language media took the floor. At each press conference with the participation of the President of the Republic of Poland, Mr. Andrzej Duda, or the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland, Mr. Mateusz Morawiecki, every second question concerned the matter of MiG-29 combat aircraft; When will we hand them over? How many will there be? Which airports will they operate from? Characteristically, there was not a single question about the Suchoj Su-22 planes, which are also used by the Polish Army. It can be concluded that it was the Polish freemasonry who offered to hand over MiG-29 planes to Ukraine.
Importantly, the perpetrator of the topic, Mr. Josep Borrell, withdrew and did not speak again on this matter.
The head of the American diplomacy, Antony Blinken, said that the US is giving NATO countries a "green light" when it comes to handing over the fighters to Ukraine, which is fighting against the Russian aggressor.
The Polish government did not say – No. On March 8, 2022, Poland declared its readiness to hand over the MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine by sending them to the base in Ramstein (US base in Germany) and putting them at the disposal of the US authorities. As it is a significant combat force of the Polish Army, Poland was to receive a declaration of early delivery of 4 Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft and start glazing Polish soldiers on these aircraft in the USA.
Presidential Minister Jakub Kumoch stressed that "Poland is doing everything not to be dragged into the war." The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the Polish authorities are ready to "immediately and free of charge move all their MiG-29 planes to the base in Ramstein and place them at the disposal of the Government of the United States of America."
The reaction of the US administration was perfectly correct: US Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland did not hide her surprise with the statement of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It stated that it had not been consulted with the administration of President Mr. Joe Biden. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that the Polish proposal "raises serious concerns for the entire NATO" and that there is no "substantive justification" for it.
Presidential Minister Jakub Kumoch said that "Poland, speaking very openly, did not allow itself to be guilty of the Ukrainians’ tragedy." – "For 24 hours, after the unfortunate statements of Western representatives that Poland should deliver MiG to Ukraine itself, at our own risk, we often received quite emotional phone calls from our Ukrainian friends who said why Poland is blocking it," said Mr. Jakub Kumoch. He added that "it was necessary to explain that it is not Poland that is blocking and that Poland is aware that there are war crimes in Ukraine and that Russia is taking revenge on women and children."
Could Ukrainian pilots fly on Polish MiG-29 planes?
Yes, but in a few months. Polish MiG-29 planes have long been missing operating inscriptions written in Cyrillic. There are instruments in the cockpit in Anglo-Saxon measures, not in the SI system. For example, altitude is given in feet (ft), not meters (m). The difference in absolute numbers is huge. The entire communication system is compatible with the NATO system. Many components would have to be dismantled. Other communication radios that support the bands used in Ukraine should be installed. The case of the MiG-29 aircraft may return after the end of the war in Ukraine.
March 14, 2023. MiG-29 for Ukraine.
A few months later, the situation changed. The war in Ukraine continues and Ukrainian troops need armament. On March 14, 2023, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced that Poland would deliver its MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine within four to six weeks. On March 16, 2023, the President of Poland Andrzej Duda, during a meeting with the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, confirmed that the first four MiG-29 aircraft will be delivered to Ukraine in the coming days. The remaining dozen or so aircraft were being prepared for handover.
On March 17, 2023, the Slovak government decided to transfer 13 MiG-29 aircraft to Ukraine, which is similar to Poland. Polish MiG-29 aircraft were still active aircraft and were in service. Although their lifespan is coming to an end. The decisions were made by the central authorities of Poland. At the same time, the acquisition of new combat aircraft has already been guaranteed.
Since some of the MiG-29 aircraft that were operated in Poland came from Germany (they were transferred in 2004), Poland had to obtain the consent of Germany. This consent has been granted.
On April 5, 2023, it was reported that 4 MiG-29 aircraft had already been transferred to Ukraine, and 4 more were being prepared for transfer. President Andrzej Duda announced that we would hand over another 6 aircraft. On May 9, 2023, the Minister of National Defense, Mariusz Błaszczak, announced that 10 aircraft had already been handed over.
Currently (May 30, 2023) it is not known how many such planes Ukraine has and how many have been lost since the beginning of the war. Before its outbreak, there was information about the use of 37 MiG-29 fighters by Ukraine.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman