Poland Weighs MiG-29 Transfer to Ukraine in Exchange for Drone Tech

Poland is negotiating a potential transfer of its ageing MiG-29 fighter fleet to Ukraine as part of a wider technology-for-aircraft swap that could deepen defence ties between the two countries and strengthen NATO’s eastern flank.

Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed on Wednesday that Warsaw is exploring a package that would include Ukrainian drone and missile technologies in return for the jets.

“The MiG-29s will soon reach the end of their service life in the Polish Air Force. We are discussing their transfer with Ukraine, but also the transfer of technologies to Poland, such as drones. Solidarity must be two-way,” he said in a radio interview.

Aging Fleet, Shifting Priorities

Poland’s General Staff noted that continued modernisation of the Soviet-designed MiG-29s is no longer viable, and that withdrawing them fits into a long-term plan to standardise the air force around Western platforms.

If approved, air policing and quick-reaction alert duties currently carried out by the MiGs would shift to Poland’s F-16s and FA-50 light combat aircraft. Warsaw is also preparing to integrate the F-35A into its fleet later this decade.

Strategic Logic: Support for Ukraine, Security for NATO

The Polish Army framed the potential transfer as part of a broader allied effort to sustain Ukraine’s air combat capability while reinforcing deterrence along NATO’s eastern border.

“The decision, if taken, will support Ukraine and strengthen the security of the Alliance’s front line,” the General Staff said.

Talks remain ongoing, and no final approval has been issued.

Technology in Return

Crucially, the discussions include access to selected Ukrainian drone and missile technologies—areas where Kyiv has rapidly expanded its domestic capabilities since Russia’s full-scale invasion. For Poland, such technology transfers could accelerate local industry programmes centred on unmanned systems and adaptable strike platforms.

A successful deal would mark one of the most significant bilateral defense exchanges between NATO’s frontline state and Ukraine since early 2022, blending military support with industrial cooperation.