MiG-29s aren't even that old. How were they ever convinced to buy a bunch of those when their main enemy for decades has been Russia? Sounds like they just want to swap them for American fighter jets.
we are not party to this war
Neither is the US, and I bet the vast majority of the people that want the US to be are defense contractors or politicians.
They got those MiGs when they were behind the Iron Curtain, and then traded for some more with the Czech Republic in the 90s because the Czechs didn't want theirs. It's a 1970s/80s jet.
The Mi-G-29s are not the greatest thing ever. And they were not the same level as the Russian ones, but they received significant upgrades(probably from Israel and WZL). I do wonder how long and what they will take out from NATO equipment before they send it to the Ukrainians.
Yeah if I had to guess Poland wanted rid of or were already phasing out the MiG-29s anyway. So, if they can work a deal to swap some of all of them for favorable deals on F-16s it's a win for them, since they already operate F-16s they are going to have pilots and experience. They've ordered some F-35s as well, so they could very well be planning to transition the MiG pilots to something like that anyway.
They were already doing that. With the F-35s(as far as I know) to replace them. But they wanted to keep the MiG-29s until the planes arrived, otherwise it would leave a large gap on their defense. And I think, from what I can understand as I have been following this since it was first rumoured to be happening, that they weren't willing to depart with the planes that happily. But I think, hopefully, Poland can get a good deal out of this. They do deserve good planes, as Poland is a very based and a very good country. So what they will get out of this, I still don't know... A fast track to F-16s block 50s or 70s? Maybe. But that will leave Taiwan in the back, with China increasingly fondling them in their no-no place. Maybe some already in the inventory and flying for USAF. But those also received customization specific for USAF, and they will need to be customized to Poland. But it shouldn't take long. Albeit that will leave a gap for the USAF. I do wonder what they will fill it up with.
I am amazed at their purchase of the superior M1A2 SEPv3 tanks. Those are massively upgraded to the latest in technology.
MiG-29s aren't even that old. How were they ever convinced to buy a bunch of those when their main enemy for decades has been Russia? Sounds like they just want to swap them for American fighter jets.
Neither is the US, and I bet the vast majority of the people that want the US to be are defense contractors or politicians.
They got those MiGs when they were behind the Iron Curtain, and then traded for some more with the Czech Republic in the 90s because the Czechs didn't want theirs. It's a 1970s/80s jet.
The Mi-G-29s are not the greatest thing ever. And they were not the same level as the Russian ones, but they received significant upgrades(probably from Israel and WZL). I do wonder how long and what they will take out from NATO equipment before they send it to the Ukrainians.
Yeah if I had to guess Poland wanted rid of or were already phasing out the MiG-29s anyway. So, if they can work a deal to swap some of all of them for favorable deals on F-16s it's a win for them, since they already operate F-16s they are going to have pilots and experience. They've ordered some F-35s as well, so they could very well be planning to transition the MiG pilots to something like that anyway.
They were already doing that. With the F-35s(as far as I know) to replace them. But they wanted to keep the MiG-29s until the planes arrived, otherwise it would leave a large gap on their defense. And I think, from what I can understand as I have been following this since it was first rumoured to be happening, that they weren't willing to depart with the planes that happily. But I think, hopefully, Poland can get a good deal out of this. They do deserve good planes, as Poland is a very based and a very good country. So what they will get out of this, I still don't know... A fast track to F-16s block 50s or 70s? Maybe. But that will leave Taiwan in the back, with China increasingly fondling them in their no-no place. Maybe some already in the inventory and flying for USAF. But those also received customization specific for USAF, and they will need to be customized to Poland. But it shouldn't take long. Albeit that will leave a gap for the USAF. I do wonder what they will fill it up with.
I am amazed at their purchase of the superior M1A2 SEPv3 tanks. Those are massively upgraded to the latest in technology.