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Poland is in talks over donating further MiG-29 fighter aircraft to Ukraine. Warsaw hopes to receive access to drone and missile technologies from Kyiv in return.
In a statement on Tuesday evening, the general staff of the Polish armed forces announced that “negotiations are ongoing with the Ukrainian side regarding the transfer of MiG-29 aircraft”, without specifying the number.
They noted that the fighter jets are “reaching their target operational lifespans” and lack prospects for modernisation, with their tasks being taken over by US-made F-16s and South Korean FA-50s. The MiG-29 was developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s and entered service in 1983.
Informujemy, że trwają rozmowy ze stroną ukraińską na temat przekazania samolotów MIG-29. Przekazywanie samolotów związane jest z osiąganiem przez nie docelowych resursów eksploatacyjnych oraz brakiem perspektywy ich dalszej modernizacji w Siłach Zbrojnych RP. Informujemy… pic.twitter.com/35obeH37rP
— Sztab Generalny WP (@SztabGenWP) December 9, 2025
“The donation of the aircraft will be an element of the allied policy of supporting Ukraine and maintaining security on NATO’s eastern flank,” wrote the general staff.
However, they added that, “at the same time, in connection with the transfer of the aircraft, negotiations are being conducted with the Ukrainian side regarding the provision of selected drone and missile technologies to Poland”.
“The goal is not only to compensate Poland for the loss of equipment, but above all to acquire and jointly develop new defence and industrial competencies.”
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In September, Ukraine and Poland signed an agreement to set up a joint working group to share experience and expertise in drone warfare. The development came a week after an unprecedented violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones.
Polish defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz noted that Ukraine has “made a historic leap in drone and anti-drone capabilities” in the three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion. “We want to benefit from your knowledge and skills,” he told his Ukrainian counterpart, Denys Shmyhal.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Poland has already given between 10 and 14 of its MiG-29s to Ukraine. They are used for air patrol and countering cruise missiles and drones, as well as for ground attacks using guided bombs, notes broadcaster TVN.
In August, Poland signed a $3.8 billion agreement with the United States to modernise the entire Polish fleet of 48 F-16 fighter aircraft. Next year, the first F-35 stealth combat aircraft ordered by Poland will also begin to arrive, alongside the first FA-50 combat aircraft from South Korea.
The F-35 combat aircraft being produced by Lockheed Martin for Poland has been unveiled at its headquarters in Texas.
The Polish version of the plane has been named "Husarz" in reference to Poland's famous "Winged Hussar" cavalry units https://t.co/Zk1BSxQnmd
— Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) August 28, 2024
Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support.
Main image credit: Julian Herzog/Wikimedia Commons (under CC BY 4.0)
Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland. He has written on Polish affairs for a wide range of publications, including Foreign Policy, POLITICO Europe, EUobserver and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.
