Poland revives MiG-29 transfer to Ukraine in drone technology deal

Poland is finalizing plans to transfer MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine in exchange for access to Ukrainian drone and counter-drone technologies, Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk said on November 10, 2026, reviving an arrangement Warsaw had suspended in June. 

“We are finalizing arrangements for the transfer of Polish MiG-29s to Ukraine in exchange for access to Ukrainian drone and anti-drone technologies,” Tomczyk wrote on X during a visit to Kyiv. In an earlier post, he said Ukraine had agreed to provide Poland with the counter-drone technologies it needs. 

Tomczyk did not specify the number of aircraft in his post, but had previously discussed transferring two MiG-29s, according to Polish broadcaster RMF24. The final terms of the exchange remain unclear, including which technologies Poland would receive. 

Poland and Ukraine sign drone technology cooperation agreement 

Tomczyk also announced that he had signed an agreement with Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Serhii Boiev to establish joint working groups on drone and counter-drone technologies. 

He had been in Kyiv since November 9, 2026, accompanied by Lt. Gen. Karol Dymanowski, First Deputy Chief of the Polish General Staff. The talks also covered broader military cooperation, security, and technology transfers. 

Separately, Tomczyk met Davyd Aloian, Deputy Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, to discuss ballistic missile defense. He highlighted Ukraine’s exposure to Russian Iskander-M and Kinzhal missiles, as well as North Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles. 

Poland is also part of an international anti-ballistic coalition involving Ukraine, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands. 

Poland revives MiG-29 transfer suspended in June 

Polish officials first proposed exchanging MiG-29s for Ukrainian drone technology in December 2025. Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said at the time that the jets were nearing the end of their service lives and that Warsaw was seeking Ukrainian drone and missile technology in return. 

The arrangement stalled in June 2026. Kosiniak-Kamysz told Polsat News at the time that Poland would not proceed with the transfer because Ukraine had backed away from its commitment to share drone technology. 

Poland has operated MiG-29s since 1989 and is phasing them out as it introduces FA-50 and F-35 fighters alongside its existing F-16 fleet. In October 2026, the Polish Air Force assigned its FA-50GF light fighters to quick reaction alert duty against Russian jet-powered drones, helping cover the gap left by the departing MiG-29s. 

Poland previously became the first country to supply fighter jets to Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion, transferring 14 MiG-29s in spring 2023. The post Poland revives MiG-29 transfer to Ukraine in drone technology deal appeared first on AeroTime.

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