The Ukrainian Air Force (UAF) is getting closer and closer to receiving a nice reinforcement in the form of 11 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters, coming from Slovakia. Standing still since August, the fighter jets are ready to be sent to Ukraine. 

Speaking to the Ukrainian portal Interfax, Slovak Foreign Minister Rastislav Káčer confirmed that the Soviet Era planes will be sent to the country as soon as possible. The interview, held last Thursday (08), was published this week. 

Asked about the supply of planes, Káčer replied: “We have not yet delivered the MiG-29s to you, but we are ready to do so. We talked to our partners in NATO about how to do this and today [08] we had a very substantial discussion with their president (Volodymyr Zelensky). My defense minister explained to his president how we could do this. And I suppose in the next few weeks your delegation will come to Slovakia and we will work together with our American friends to make it a reality.”

The Minister claims that the donation includes “a few thousand used missiles” for the MiG-29s. He also says to be “very optimistic that it will be done soon and will reach Ukraine.” In April, Slovakia donated S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to the country. 

🇸🇰 MiGs-29:
– modernization by RSK MiG with BAE Systems and Rockwell Collins
– IFF provided and installed by BAE System (will go out)
– new comms, navigation system, also compatible with NATO (will probably stay)
– altimeter in feet, airspeed indicator in knots@IAPonomarenko @jj pic.twitter.com/fR5iXcOXYT

— Martin Huba 🇸🇰🇪🇺🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@matosalka) August 13

The Slovak Air Force retired 10 MiG-29AS and one MiG-29UBS on 27/08, effectively running out of high-performance fighter jets. Between 2005 and 2008, the jets received modernizations from the companies RSK MIG, Rockwell Collins and BAe Systems in the IFF systems (friend-enemy identification), navigation and communication, as well as a complete revision in the engines and airframes.

While waiting for the arrival of the first F-16 Block 70, scheduled for 2024, the country left the protection of its airspace in the hands of the Czech Republic and its leased Saab Gripen fighters. 

The MiG-29 donation – much requested by Kiev since the beginning of the war with Russia in February – will be the first made up of complete planes. The country has already received helicopters, tools and spare parts/maintenance, but has been asking for new planes for months. A recent article by British researchers named the JAS-39 Gripen as the best fighter for Ukraine right now.