Status: 04/13/2023 5:35 p.m
The federal government agrees to the delivery of “MiG 29” fighter jets to Ukraine. The Polish government had applied for the permit. The five jets originally come from the stocks of the National People’s Army of the GDR.
Germany has granted Poland an export license for MiG 29 fighter jets from former GDR stocks to Ukraine. This was announced by the Federal Ministry of Defense. The Ministry of Defense in Warsaw initially did not want to comment on this.
After reunification, Germany took over 24 “MiG 29” jets from the stocks of the GDR. At that time, the aircraft were among the most modern fighter jets in the world. In 2004, Berlin handed over 22 of the aircraft to Poland.
The Polish government has already delivered “MiGs” to Ukraine. However, an export license is required for aircraft purchased from Germany.
“Ukraine to receive Poland’s entire ‘MiG’ fleet”
The Polish government announced in mid-March that it was preparing to deliver the first MiG jets to Ukraine. Eight machines of the type have since been sent to Ukraine. At the beginning of April, President Andrzej Duda extended the commitment: his country wanted to make “its entire ‘MiG’ fleet” of around 30 aircraft available to Ukraine. Including the machines received from Germany.
The Ukrainian government under President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has been pushing for weeks for more comprehensive military aid from the West, with priority being given to the delivery of fighter jets for the country’s troops.
Strack-Zimmermann advocates delivery
The FDP defense politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann was already in favor of the delivery of the fighter jets at the time the approval was still pending. She does not fear that Germany could be drawn into the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. “The ‘MiG’ is not a German fighter aircraft, but it works air-to-air. That means it is suitable for parrying Russian aircraft attacks under certain circumstances. That’s what it’s built for.” Something else would be the delivery of aircraft that could have an impact far into the Russian area, said the FDP politician.