More much-needed MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters are likely headed to Ukraine, with Poland negotiating to provide the country with its last remaining examples. Poland has already donated 14 of its MiG-29s to Ukraine, after becoming the first country to supply the fighter jets to Kiev. The new package should also include the transfer of drone and missile technology from Ukraine to Poland.
In a statement on X, the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces confirmed that negotiations regarding the exchange of MiG-29 are underway.
We would like to inform you that negotiations with the Ukrainian side regarding the transfer of MIG-29 aircraft are ongoing. The transfer of aircraft is related to the achievement of their target operational resources and the lack of possibilities for their further modernization in the Polish Armed Forces. We inform… pic.twitter.com/35obeH37rP
— General Staff of the Polish Army (@SztabGenWP) December 9, 2025
“The transfer of these aircraft is related to the fact that they have reached their target service life and there is no possibility of their further modernization in the Polish Armed Forces,” the statement said.
The General Staff notes that no final decision has been made, but the donation of fighters is in line with NATO policy of supporting Ukraine and maintaining security in NATO’s eastern flank.
The statement added that the withdrawal of the MiG-29 aircraft from service will be carried out by the Polish Air Force’s F-16 fighters and FA-50 light fighters.
One of Poland’s F-16Ds with its conformal fuel tank and extended spine is clearly visible. Polish Ministry of Defense
Interestingly, the talks also include the transfer of “selected drone and missile technologies” to Poland.
“The objective is not only to compensate for equipment, but above all to acquire and jointly develop new defense and industrial capabilities,” the General Staff emphasizes.
Discussions about the possible transfer of Poland’s last MiG-29 jets to Ukraine began in July 2024.
Currently, the Polish Air Force has 14 Fulcrums, including 11 single-seat MiG-29 fighters and three two-seat MiG-29UB fighter trainers.
Polish fulcrums come from a variety of sources, which you can read about here. In addition to the original deliveries from the Soviet Union, Poland received ex-Czechoslovakia MiG-29s inherited from the Czech Republic, as well as advanced examples previously flown by the German Luftwaffe (and before that, by East Germany).
The remaining Polish aircraft are still active on the front line and in support of NATO.
On two occasions in late October of this year, for example, Polish MiG-29s intercepted a Russian Il-20 Coot intelligence-gathering aircraft over the Baltic Sea.
For the second time this week, a pair of MiG-29As with the Polish Air Force scrambled this morning to intercept and track a Russian Il-20M “Coot-A” electronic surveillance aircraft operating over the Baltic Sea from the 22nd Strategic Air Base in Malbork. pic.twitter.com/ZQdlYN9RKV
In March 2023, Warsaw announced the delivery of the first batch of 14 MiG-29s to Ukraine. The first four of these MiG-29s are reported to have arrived in Ukraine next month.
They were preceded by a MiG-29 provided by Slovakia, which confirmed its donation soon after Poland. The Slovak government approved the transfer of 13 MiG-29s to Ukraine, and the first arrived there in March 2023 – the first strategic jets Officially Kiev was supplied as Russia launched its full-scale offensive. Ukraine is also believed to have received MiG-29 spare parts from other sources, apparently involving ex-Moldovan Fulcrums acquired by the United States.
As far as Ukraine is concerned, there is a huge demand for more fighters, consistent since the start of the conflict.
Ukraine began the war by assigning two regiments of approximately 50 MiG-29s to operational service. According to the Oryx open source tracking group, 33 Ukrainian MiG-29s have been destroyed and more have been confirmed damaged since the start of the current conflict. The actual figure is almost certainly higher, as Oryx only avoids losses that are confirmed by visual evidence.
A fully armed Ukrainian MiG-29 performs a combat mission over eastern Ukraine on August 1, 2023. Photo by Libkos/Getty Images LIBKOS
The situation is even more dire regarding the Su-27 Flanker, with the Ukrainian Air Force entering the war with around 32 operational examples, of which at least 19 have been confirmed destroyed – the most recent earlier this week. Unlike the MiG-29, there is no potential resource to help replace flanker losses.
Russia shot down another Su-27 over eastern Ukraine on Sunday. The pilot, Lt. Col. Yevni Ivanov, was killed. This is the 19th Su-27 loss since February 2022.
Ukraine may have only 12-23 left. And unlike MiGs or F-16s, no allies operate Su-27s – so there’s no donor pipeline.
It is worth noting that additional examples of both these types have also been brought back to airworthiness after local overhauls. At least some of these were brought back into action after long periods of inactivity or storage.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has introduced more modern and capable F-16s and Mirage 2000s, but it is important that the MiG-29, in particular, remains a highly valued asset. This is a fact that is reflected in the constant adaptation of carrying new weapons, both Western-supplied and locally developed. With a significant stock of spares, weapons, and well-trained maintenance crews, the MiG-29 is considered easy to maintain and customize. It is also well-suited for more rigorous operations, with the Ukrainian Air Force regularly rotating the jets between different operating locations, making it difficult for the Russians to target them.
A Ukrainian F-16AM takes off with a full load of six AIM-9M Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. Ukrainian Air Force
Kiev’s need for more MiG-29s, from whatever source, was underscored earlier this year by the appearance of at least one ex-Azerbaijani example. As you can read here , it was probably one of three Azerbaijani MiG-29s being repaired in Ukraine and stranded there after the full-scale attack began.
While the final 14 Polish MiG-29s are to be supplied to Ukraine, which appears to be a formality, the final source of NATO-owned Fulcrums is Bulgaria, which operates about a dozen examples.
A MiG-29 in Graf Ignativo, Bulgaria on February 17, 2022. Photo by Hristo Rusev/Getty Images Christo Rusev
In the past, Bulgaria’s defense ministry has refused to hand over the jets to Ukraine, saying such a move would “lead to a lack of capability.”
Now that the Bulgarian Air Force has begun receiving the 16 F-16C/D Block 70 fighters it ordered, that situation may change.
.@LockheedMartinThe first F-16 Block 70 jet has arrived for Bulgaria. With upgraded radar, avionics and weapons systems, the Fighting Falcon will provide the Bulgarian Air Force with upgraded air power and strengthen global security for decades to come. https://t.co/MYP08pQvUd
Back to the Polish Air Force, once the last MiG-29 is gone, it will be left with a combat fleet led by 47 F-16C/D Block 52+ fighters, which will be upgraded to the F-16V configuration, which you can read about here .
A Polish Air Force MiG-29, in the foreground, and a block of 52+ F-16Cs, in the background. Polish Armed Forces
These are bolstered by 12 South Korean-made FA-50GFs that were delivered to Poland between July and December 2023. An additional 36 FA-50PL aircraft are also on order.
The Polish Air Force presents MiG-29 and FA-50 aircraft during a military parade to mark Polish Army Day in Warsaw on August 15, 2023. Photo by Dominika Jarzicka/NurPhoto Dominika Zarzycka
Starting next year, the first operational Polish fifth-generation fighter squadron is to be established, with 32 F-35As already under command and training in the United States.
There is also the possibility that Poland could further increase its fighter inventory, adding another new type in the shape of the F-15EX, the latest version of the Eagle.
Boeing announced its pitch to sell an unspecified number of F-15EXs to Poland in 2023, as we wrote at the time.
Exactly what kind of drone and missile technologies might find their way from Ukraine to Poland is unclear.
However, the Polish Air Force is currently on a drone push, with the Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 uncrewed aerial system also used by Ukraine, and these will eventually be joined by three MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones, providing greatly expanded capabilities.
As well as a wide variety of indigenous drones of various sizes and capabilities, including suicide drones and loitering weapons, Ukraine’s counter-drone expertise may be of particular interest to Poland, which has faced several Russian drone strikes.
Long-range cruise missile or ballistic missile technologies may also be involved in technology transfer negotiations.
However, military ties between Warsaw and Kiev look set to deepen at the strategic level and, more immediately, with the possible transfer of badly needed MiG-29s to the Ukrainian Air Force.
