Poland plans to send a dozen MiG-29 jets to Ukraine, with the first four likely to come within the week. But what state the jets will be in, and who else might send them, is a big question mark.
“The time of the [ex-Soviet BWP-1] IFV, which is still used in the Polish Army, has passed. Now the era of NBPWP Borsuk has come,” said Polish defense minister Mariusz Błaszczak.
“The right-wing government in Poland and its leading party PiS (Law and Justice) has been for years very critical of Germany’s policies in many respects — including in defense,” said Marek Świerczyński, a defense analyst at Polityka Insight.
Christian Thiels, a spokesman for the German Ministry of National Defense, said that assistance for Poland could be provided at any time, including with Eurofighters, though the details are still being sorted out.
Since late July, Poland has inked agreements with South Korea to purchase 1,000 K2 tanks, 672 K9 self-propelled howitzers, and 48 FA-50 light combat aircraft, along with the MLRS announcement today.
While the UK and Poland have agreed to develop future systems, one collaboration – the Narew SHORAD system – is arriving in the hands of Polish forces.
The deal covers the purchase of 1,000 K2 tanks, 672 K9 self-propelled howitzers, and 48 FA-50PL light combat aircraft, with production benefits for Poland as well.
“We can see how important the air and anti-aircraft defense capability is” in Ukraine, said Poland’s defense minister. “Hence, we have significantly accelerated the deliveries of the Narew system to equip the Polish Army.”
Talk that Poland could send MiG-29s to Ukraine in exchange for the US sending F-16s to Warsaw is enticing to some, but questions about timing, maintenance and pilot availability will complicate it.
With programs like MTC, Millennium Space Systems is redefining what it means to be an operational prime – rapidly delivering operational small sat constellations on rapid timelines.
With programs like MTC, Millennium Space Systems is redefining what it means to be an operational prime – rapidly delivering operational small sat constellations on rapid timelines.
