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Swapping MiG-29s With Typhoons, UK Mulls Transfer Of Its Eurofighters To Allies To Help Ukraine With Combat Jets

The UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) is considering providing RAF Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 1 fighter aircraft to European MiG-29 operators so that the Soviet-era plane can be forwarded to Ukraine.

After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy first visited the United Kingdom and delivered an emotionally charged address to the British Parliament, there were speculations that the UK could transfer the Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 1 combat jets from its inventory to Kyiv.

Later, the UK announced that it was prepared to train Ukrainian pilots on fighter jets in the Royal Air Force (RAF). Following the announcement, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak asked his Defense Secretary Ben Wallace to investigate whether planes could be delivered to the Ukrainian Air Force.

Although the 10 Downing Street or the Royal Air Force stopped short of specifying which combat aircraft would be used for training Ukrainian soldiers, military experts predicted that the RAF would use the Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 1 jet.

However, the transfer of fighter jets did not seem imminent because Sunak stated that it was meant to be a “long-term solution rather than a short-term capability.”

Despite ruling out the direct delivery of the Tranche 1 jets to Ukraine, citing logistical issues, UK armed forces minister James Heappey recognized the prospective aircraft handover to MiG-29 operators during a British defense committee meeting.

He claimed that several nations are “having this debate” and that the UK is “definitely” looking at the issue. This refers to the momentum building among East European militaries that still operate the Soviet-legacy MiG-29 warplanes.

The fact that the Tranche 1 fleet will be retired by the RAF in 2025 amounts to a considerable maintenance drawback for any third-party operator considering they accept UK’s offer.

On his part, Heappey did not disclose specifics on how the plan would materialize or whether the British officials were in talks with their European counterparts on the issue.

The Ukrainian Air Force is predominantly composed of Soviet-era fighters like the Su-24, Su-25, Su-27, and MiG-29s, to name a few. Of these, the MiG-29 has proved to be the most combat-capable.

Although they all own MiG-29 aircraft, Slovakia, Poland, and Bulgaria have refrained from offering any to Ukraine. However, with Russian troops intensifying their assault and Ukraine not getting any breakthrough on its western fighter jet demand, positive signs are emerging from NATO’s MiG-29 operators.

Ukraine Could Get Fighter Jets From NATO, But Only Soviet Warplanes

Although the discussions about the transfer of MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine from NATO operators have been taking place for a while, a political breakthrough may have just emerged, with Slovakian and Polish governments hinting at a willingness to make the extensive transfer to Kyiv.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki stated that Ukraine might be supplied with MiG-29 fighters during the next four to six weeks or by April, Ukraine Pravda reported. “The delivery of the MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine could be conducted within the next four to six weeks,” he said.

The Polish president, Andrzej Duda, previously declared that Warsaw is prepared to provide Ukraine with its MiG-29 fighters as part of the international coalition. At the time, he also hoped that the F-16s would soon be given to Ukraine. Later, the country confirmed that it would supply Ukraine with MiG-29s, but only a few of them.

“The rest of the MiG-29 fighters that are in service in the Air Forces of Poland – we are ready to send these fighters to Ukraine, and I am sure that Ukraine will be ready to use them right away,” Duda stated. According to reports, the Polish Air Force has nearly 30 aircraft of this type.

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