Ukraine's Air Defense Face Bumps in Upgrading Fighter Fleet
In beefing up its air force to effectively counter Russian attacks, Ukraine urgently needs a formidable arsenal of advanced fighter jets. This pursuit, however, has been marred by numerous obstacles for quite some time now. A fresh setback has emerged, albeit temporarily, from Poland.
Recently, Kyiv has seen Western combat aircraft in action, with F-16 fighter jets deployed for the first time in weeks to ward off Russian onslaughts. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the F-16s for successfully defending against the latest significant missile attacks. Ukraine aspires to augment its fighter jet fleet in the future, with a possible increase in F-16s and French Mirage 2000-5s. Unfortunately, Poland has momentarily declined Ukraine's request for additional Soviet MiG jets.
Polish Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed this request in Wiadomosci, stressing the necessity of reinforcing the Polish air force with new airplanes before considering MiG-29 handovers. The first delivery of F-35 fighter jets from the US is scheduled for Wednesday, for pilot training in the US. The arrival of the first F-35s in Poland won't occur until 2026. Consequently, the transfer of MiG-29s to Ukraine may align with this timeline.
Ukraine could promptly utilize MiG aircraft due to delayed Western backing in deploying F-16 fighter jets, resulting from extended personnel training. Kyiv anticipates getting around 20 F-16s airborne this year, requiring more to effectively safeguard air defense. According to the World Air Forces Report 2024, Ukraine currently holds roughly 100 Soviet-type combat aircraft, such as approximately 40 MiG-29s. Poland supplied MiG-29 jets to Kyiv last year.
Uncertainty surrounding France's Mirage Statement
French President Emmanuel Macron rekindled hope in June with his announcement of Mirage-5 fighter jet delivery. Since then, however, details regarding Macron's pledge have remained scarce. The French defense ministry declined to provide further information on the Mirage-5 topic, pointing towards the Élysée Palace, which did not respond to numerous inquiries.
The Ministry of Defense proclaimed that France is currently training combat pilots as part of the EUMAM mission. For confidential reasons, they declined to disclose an exact count. France provides an extensive five-to-six-month combat pilot training program at a domestic air force base. According to a report by Euronews, this entails training on Alpha Jet training aircraft. "Ukrainian pilots are receiving combat training in compliance with Western standards," the ministry told ntv.de, followed by continue their training on combat aircraft from allied nations subsequent.
Despite the potential hold-up in securing additional MiG-29 buffers from Poland, Ukraine presses ahead with utilizing Western combat aircraft, notably F-16 fighter jets, to fend off Russian aggression. Ukraine's desire to substantially widen its fighter jet fleet endures, featuring aspirations to acquire further F-16s and possibly French Mirage 2000-5s.
Additional Information:
- Poland's perfectly vague stance on temporarily halting the transfer of MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine doesn't directly impact Ukraine's immediate air defense against Russian attacks. However, the delay may hinder Ukraine's long-term plans of modernizing its fighter aircraft fleet.
- Despite receiving Western fighter aircraft, such as F-16s and Mirage 2000s, Ukraine continues to face challenges from Russian aggression, including drone attacks and missile strikes. For instance, a recent drone attack by Russia resulted in 267 drones deployed against Ukraine, with 138 being shot down by Ukrainian forces.
- Poland, along with other European nations, has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine and has amplified NATO troop deployments along NATO's eastern flank. Despite the absence of specific decisions about transferring MiG-29s, military support remains a priority for buttressing Ukraine's defense capabilities.
