The Polish Ministry of National Defense has decided to decommission its remaining MiG-29 fighter jets, which were originally intended for transfer to Ukraine.
The bilateral agreement involved a specific trade formula between the two nations. Under this proposal, Poland would provide the aircraft to Ukraine in exchange for advanced drone technologies, according to Wirtualna Polska on July 2.
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Polish Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that the Ukrainian side initially agreed to the partnership proposal but is not currently fulfilling the arrangement. He suggested that the issue has been influenced by historical disputes between the two nations.
Due to the unfulfilled terms, Poland will not deliver the military equipment to the front lines.
The supersonic aircraft have been in service with the Polish Air Force since 1989. They are currently stationed at the 22nd Tactical Air Base in Malbork and are reaching the end of their operational lifespan.
According to the ministry’s press service, there are no plans to invest in further modernization of these fighters, meaning they will be gradually retired as they exceed their certified flight hours.
The defense ministry emphasized that the exact timeline and schedule for the phase-out of the MiG-29 fleet will remain strictly confidential.
The future operational status of the Malbork airfield has not been fully disclosed, though official statements confirm the facility will continue to service helicopters and allied aircraft performing air policing missions along the eastern flank of NATO.
Earlier, Poland prepared to build a large-scale fleet of drones, drawing on lessons learned from Ukraine’s use of unmanned systems in combat.
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