Ukraine gets fighter jets from Poland – they can

Poland and Slovakia are the first. Ukrainian leaders have long been asking for fighter jets in their fight against the Russian invasion. Now the Polish and Slovak command announced the delivery of the MiG-29. For NATO, this opens a new dimension in supporting Ukraine, the border with fighter jets has fallen.

According to Polish President Andrzej Duda, Poland will hand over four MiG-29 fighter jets to the Ukrainian air force in the coming days. More MiG-29s are currently being maintained and prepared for later handover, Duda said in Warsaw after a meeting with Czech President Petr Pavel.

The delivery of the MiG-29 makes sense for Ukraine, as their pilots are already trained on the fighter jets. But what can the jet actually do? One thing is certain: the MiG-29 is getting older and is no longer a panacea.

But what can the fighter jet actually do? The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 made its first flight on October 6, 1977. In addition to the Soviet Union, it was used in many other countries, including Poland.

The MiG-29 is especially legendary for its speed, agility and maneuverability. It is capable of speeds up to Mach 2.4 (2,900 kilometers per hour) and can maneuver in the air with a maximum G-force of 9G. This makes the MiG-29 a very manoeuvrable aircraft. It is able to react quickly and effectively, as well as fly tight turns and changes of direction. This is especially useful in dogfights.

In addition, the fighter jet is equipped with a powerful radar that allows the pilot to detect and track targets at a great distance. NATO’s MiG-29 fighters have been modernized and are also equipped with new weapon systems, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles and bombs, allowing pilots to attack a variety of targets.

Especially useful for Ukraine: the MiG-29 can operate on short airstrips. This qualifies them for use on small airfields or near combat zones. Many of Ukraine’s airfields have been destroyed by Russia and Ukraine has to hide the rest of its air force. In theory, you could park the MiG-29 in a shed and launch it from a straight stretch of highway. Thanks to its braking chute, it can also land on shorter roads or runways.

The MiG-29 can also fly in difficult weather conditions, including bad weather and poor visibility.

The Polish Air Force has been constantly modernizing its MiG-29 fleet. She has integrated modern weapon systems and updated the electronic sensors and systems in the cockpit. The MiG-29 is therefore a reliable and efficient aircraft for the Polish Air Force.

But the MiG-29 also has weaknesses, it shows its age: it cannot be refueled in the air, it can only stay in the air for 45 minutes, and it can fly only 700 kilometers. In the past, pilots have criticized the fact that they have to go to the ground again and again. In addition, the aircraft does not have a good navigation system. “I don’t want to start a real war with this plane,” German Major Georg Pepperl, who flew the jet for years in Jagdgeschwader 73, told the newspaper “Welt”.

So, in general, the MiG-29 is a powerful and versatile aircraft that has proven itself in a wide variety of missions. However, a handful of MiG-29s are unlikely to significantly affect the outcome of the war. Still, they can help protect Ukrainian cities from attacks by Russian missiles and drones. This first delivery could have gone further in another respect: it could have opened the door for further deliveries of fighter jets from the West. This means that today Ukraine has better chances in its struggle for survival against the Russian forces than it did yesterday. (t online)

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