Poland and Ukraine Advance MiG-29-for-Drone Technology Deal
Poland and Ukraine have agreed to joint drone and counter-drone working groups while finalizing negotiations over a potential MiG-29 fighter transfer in exchange for Ukrainian military technology.
Warsaw and Kyiv have agreed to establish joint working groups on drone and counter-drone technologies as negotiations continue over the transfer of Polish MiG-29 fighters in exchange for Ukrainian unmanned systems expertise.
Poland and Ukraine have taken another step toward closer defense-industrial cooperation, signing an agreement on November 10 to establish bilateral working groups focused on unmanned aircraft and counter-drone technologies.
Polish Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk announced the agreement following talks in Kyiv with Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Sergiy Boyev.
The discussions also covered plans to transfer Polish MiG-29 fighter aircraft to Ukraine in exchange for access to Ukrainian drone and counter-drone technologies.
According to Ukrainian media reports, the prospective transfer involves two MiG-29 aircraft.
The working-group agreement has been signed, but the aircraft transfer remains under negotiation. Neither the final delivery schedule nor the technical scope of the proposed exchange has been publicly confirmed.
Ukraine's Drone Expertise Becomes a Strategic Asset
The arrangement illustrates how Ukraine's operational experience with unmanned systems is becoming an important element of its defense partnerships.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukrainian forces and manufacturers have developed and adapted drones for reconnaissance, strike operations and the interception of hostile unmanned aircraft.
Ukraine has also accumulated extensive operational experience in electronic warfare, drone detection and rapidly adapting equipment to evolving battlefield conditions.
For Poland, access to these technologies could support efforts to improve protection against low-cost aerial threats, particularly along NATO's eastern flank.
Warsaw is already increasing investment in unmanned systems.
As AdriaDefense previously reported, Poland has earmarked approximately €5.9 billion for drone and counter-drone capabilities in 2026, while preparing to introduce additional unmanned reconnaissance aircraft.
The potential technology agreement would add a bilateral industrial dimension to those modernization efforts.
From Aircraft Donations to Technology Cooperation
Poland has previously supplied MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine, helping sustain Kyiv's combat aviation capabilities.
The current negotiations differ from earlier military aid transfers because they explicitly connect the possible delivery of aircraft with access to Ukrainian technology.
The two countries have discussed such an arrangement for months, but negotiations have faced difficulties over technology-sharing commitments.
Tomczyk's latest announcement indicates that the discussions have advanced, although the details of any final agreement have not been disclosed.
The newly established working groups could provide a formal mechanism for cooperation between Polish and Ukrainian specialists, but no specific manufacturers, production facilities or joint development contracts were identified in the announcement.
Implications for the Polish Defense Industry
Closer Polish-Ukrainian cooperation could create opportunities in drone production, interceptor development, electronic warfare and the integration of detection technologies.
Poland already has a growing domestic UAV industry, including established manufacturers and emerging companies working on surveillance and counter-drone systems.
In June, AdriaDefense covered Polish-Ukrainian startup Molfar Defence, which is developing radar technology to detect low-flying and fiber-optic-guided drones.
The proposed MiG-29 arrangement would represent a separate government-level initiative, rather than confirmation of additional contracts for existing private-sector projects.
For Warsaw, the broader opportunity lies in incorporating battlefield-tested technology into national defense capabilities while strengthening industrial cooperation with Ukraine.
For Kyiv, access to additional fighter aircraft remains valuable, even as the role of unmanned systems continues to expand.
The next decisive step will be confirmation of the aircraft transfer terms and identification of the technologies that Poland will receive.
