Mikoyan MiG-29/35

A long-awaited transfer of Polish and Slovakian MiGs will help restore Ukrainian air force capacity, but they add few needed capabilities.

The offer serves as “indirect compensation” for donating 13 Mikoyan MiG-29s and parts of an SA-6 battery to Ukraine.

Slovakia will send 13 Mikoyan MiG-29s to refresh a combat-scarred Ukrainian air force fleet, adding to up to 24 Fulcrum fighters committed by Poland.

The announcement by Warsaw breaks a year-long impasse over whether Western governments would heed Ukrainian demands for fighters.

Serbia is continuing negotiations with France’s Dassault Aviation about the purchase of Rafale fighters.

Tests were carried out by the naval version of the indigenous HAL Light Combat Aircraft Tejas (N-LCA) and a Mikoyan MiG-29K.

Defensive preparations in the center of Moscow perhaps reveal a new Russian respect for homegrown weapons being fielded by Ukraine.