Poland to Transfer Two MiG-29 Fighter Jets to Ukraine in €50 Million Aid Package
Poland will transfer two Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine as part of a new military aid package valued at approximately EUR 50 million, according to Dariusz Łukowski, director of the Strategy and Defense Planning Department at Poland’s Ministry of National Defense, as reported by Ukrinform. The shipment includes artillery rounds, aircraft cannon ammunition, and short-range air defense missiles, though one of the aircraft has reached the end of its service life and is designated for spare parts.
Defense Officials Confirm the Upcoming Aircraft Transfer
The transfer decision is finalized, and the two fighter jets will move across the border in the near future, Łukowski confirmed to Polish media outlet Rzeczpospolita on Thursday, Oct. 29. One of the aircraft remains airworthy and operational, while the second jet has exhausted its operational hours and will be utilized primarily for component harvesting. Ukrainian pilots already operate around 40 MiG-29s, making the integration of these airframes frictionless for the Ukrainian air force.
Ammunition and Air Defense Missiles Accompany the Jets
Beyond the airframes, the multi-million-euro package includes substantial munitions stocks to shore up frontline artillery and air defense capabilities. The consignment features 155 mm and 152 mm artillery ammunition, alongside 20×102 mm rounds designated for the six-barreled cannons mounted on F-16 fighter jets, as reported by European Pravda. Warsaw is also supplying Polish-manufactured missiles for Piorun man-portable air defense systems. Poland is transferring five PAC-3 MSE interceptor missiles for Patriot systems as part of a U.S.-led international initiative in cooperation with NATO, following an identical transfer earlier in the year.
Strategic Context and Prior Deliveries from Warsaw
Poland previously transferred 14 MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine between 2022 and 2023 following the full-scale Russian invasion. The current transfers draw upon equipment that the Polish military is systematically decommissioning as it transitions toward modern western platforms such as U.S.-made F-16s and South Korean FA-50s. Polish President Karol Nawrocki previously indicated that swapping retired MiG-29s for Ukrainian drone and missile technology aligns with national policy, provided the arrangement guarantees a symmetrical strategic partnership.
The Ministry of National Defense declined to publish the complete manifest of the assistance package, citing the classified nature of military logistics. Warsaw maintains that the exact composition of each deployment depends strictly on current security assessments conducted by the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces.
Poland will transfer two MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine in the near future, alongside a military aid package worth €50 million, according to Rzeczpospolita. Dariusz Lukowski, a senior Polish defence ministry official, told the newspaper the decision to hand over the aircraft has… pic.twitter.com/lCsGuAFC9B