Slovaks first proposed to donate MiGs back in the spring, in the early weeks of Russia's on Ukraine..
The transfer got tangled up in the delicate diplomacy around Ukraine-Russia war — and Slovakia's own air-defense problems..
Poland, one of just handful of NATO countries including Slovakia that operates, MiG-29s, also had mulled donating its old fighters to Ukraine, and United States objected to Poland's proposal to stage MiGs from American air base for their flight into Ukraine..
But Biden administration does not object to Slovakia giving away its own MiGs, according to Politico.
One implication is that Washington is okay with its allies rearming Ukrainian air force, as long as they do not ask to use American bases for the transfer..
The implication is that Slovakia plans to send its MiGs directly to Ukraine — or at least stage them at non- American bases along the way..
Slovakia has ordered new Lockheed Martin F-16s from United States to replace the aging, ex-Soviet planes — and these F-16s are not due to arrive until 2024..
To bridge possible air-defense gap, Czech Republic and Poland August agreed to patrol Slovak air space..
Steady supplies of spare parts, presumably from Poland, have allowed Ukrainians to maintain the jets they already had and restore to flightworthy status few airframes that were storage — including some that had served as display jets..
Ukrainians might once again have around MiG-29s.
Read more
Related items:
