Warsaw has temporarily suspended the process of transferring the remaining MiG-29 fighters to Kyiv. As reported by Cezary Tomczyk, Deputy Minister of National Defence of Poland, the decision on the final transfer of equipment will depend on Ukraine fulfilling its obligations regarding technology exchange.
The focus has shifted to an issue that previously remained in the shadows: Warsaw expects Kyiv to fulfill bilateral agreements on the transfer of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) production technologies. Poland, which is actively developing its own drone sector, is interested in accessing Ukraine's developments in this field.
"The matter is not concluded"
According to Tomczyk, Warsaw's position remains unchanged: the equipment will be transferred, but only after the technology issues are resolved. "Of course, we will transfer the equipment to Ukraine if this issue is worked out. Nothing has changed in this matter — the case is not concluded," the Deputy Minister emphasized.
These Soviet-era fighters are scheduled to be completely phased out of the Polish Air Force in the near future. Warsaw is consistently modernizing its air fleet, transitioning to Western platforms — FA-50, F-16, and F-35. The MiG-29s planned for transfer were already nearing the end of their operational lifespan and had no prospects for further modernization within the Polish Air Force.
History of the issue
The last tranche of MiG-29 fighters was transferred to Kyiv by the previous Polish government. In December last year, media reported on negotiations between Warsaw and Kyiv regarding the transfer of up to nine such aircraft as part of military aid to counter Russia's full-scale aggression.
Now, however, the implementation of these plans is on hold pending a resolution to the technology issue. For Ukraine, this could mean a delay in receiving additional combat aircraft, especially given that every fighter matters on the front lines.