Not Just 1,500 Drones: What Poland Wants from Ukraine in Exchange for the MiG-29s
14 August 10:30
Polish MiG-29 fighter jets could arrive in Ukraine as early as the coming weeks. According to the Polish publication Wirtualna Polska, Kyiv and Warsaw are finalizing negotiations on the transfer of MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, reports "Komersant Ukrainian"
In return, Poland wants to receive drones, military technology, and practical data on the use of drones on the front lines.
The Polish Ministry of Defense told the media that the acceleration of negotiations regarding the MiGs occurred after the appointment of Rustem Umerov, former secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, as the new head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service. It was he whom President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tasked with leading the negotiations on drones and technology.
When Might the MiG-29s Be Transferred to Ukraine?
Sources at the Polish publication claim that the aircraft could be sent to Ukraine within the coming weeks. Preparations for their transfer are reportedly already underway.
At the same time, the parties have not specified the exact number of fighter jets. Likewise, there is no definitive information regarding the technical condition of the aircraft, the need for repairs, or the sources of funding for the preparatory work.
In late July, Polish Deputy Minister of Defense Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czernecka confirmed that Warsaw had received a specific proposal from Ukraine regarding drones and had begun analyzing it. As reported by Defence24, a decision was expected within a few weeks, but at that time the agreement had not yet been finalized.
Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz also stated that the Ukrainian proposal had become more concrete, but that it was too early to speak of a final agreement. This was reported by the Polish publication Interia.
What Poland Wants in Exchange for the Fighter Jets
This is not just about the physical delivery of drones. According to Wirtualna Polska, Warsaw is interested in Ukraine’s experience in conducting modern unmanned warfare.
Poland is primarily interested in real-world battlefield data that could be used to improve and “train” Polish-made unmanned systems.
Specifically, Warsaw wanted to obtain video footage of Russian attacks and Ukrainian strikes on Russian targets, information on communication systems with strike UAVs, the principles of managing their combat use, as well as the Ukrainian drones themselves.
It is precisely this exchange of practical experience that remains one of Warsaw’s key conditions.
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Where Did the 1,500 Ukrainian Drones Come From?
According to an anonymous source speaking to Wirtualna Polska, the Ukrainian company Fire Point offered to supply Poland with 1,500 long-range drones.
In addition, the possibility of an urgent delivery of another batch of the same size is reportedly being discussed should a direct military threat arise near the Polish borders.
However, it is important to note that these figures currently:
- come from an anonymous source at the Polish publication;
- relate to the manufacturer’s proposal;
- are not confirmed by a publicly released contract;
- do not mean that Poland will automatically receive 3,000 drones;
- do not reveal the final ratio between the number of manned aircraft and drones.
The Polish side also fears that, due to the escalation of the situation on the front lines, the Ukrainian manufacturer may need all the drones it produces for the needs of the Defense Forces. That is precisely why Warsaw wants clear guarantees that future agreements will be fulfilled.
“You can negotiate anything with the Ukrainians. Sign anything. The question is whether they will fulfill their obligations. Fire Point, for example, is offering to supply 1,500 long-range drones—and to immediately deliver the same number to Poland in the event of war. On paper, this looks very good. But then they might say: ‘Unfortunately, we are at war; we are unable to fulfill the contract; we need this equipment ourselves because we are in a worse situation,’” the publication’s source explained.
How many fighter jets could Ukraine receive?
The final number of Polish MiG-29s remains unknown. Earlier, Polish and Ukrainian media reported on a possible transfer of six to eight aircraft.
In a security agreement signed in 2024 between Ukraine and Poland, Warsaw agreed to consider the possibility of transferring at least one more squadron of MiG-29s. However, this decision was contingent on the condition that the transfer would not weaken Poland’s own defense capabilities.
Warsaw had previously transferred 14 fighter jets of this type to the Ukrainian Air Force. The remaining Polish MiGs are gradually being phased out as more modern F-35 aircraft are introduced.
Why the Negotiations Dragged On
Poland had postponed the transfer of the remaining fighter jets for several years due to the need to defend its own airspace. Additional obstacles included the technical condition of the aircraft, the costs of preparing them, and the lack of an agreed-upon format for technical cooperation.
Warsaw emphasized that it did not plan to pay for the modernization of the aircraft on its own. At the same time, Bulgaria expressed interest in the Polish MiG-29s, which may also have influenced the course of the negotiations.
How These Fighters Will Help Ukraine
The MiG-29s are well known to Ukrainian pilots and technical personnel. These aircraft can be integrated into the Air Force more quickly than unfamiliar types of aircraft.
They can enhance the execution of air defense missions, the interception of aerial targets, and support for ground operations. At the same time, the effectiveness of the older aircraft will depend on their technical condition, the availability of spare parts, armament, and opportunities for further modernization.
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