Slovakian MiG-29s to Ukraine
On 27/28 August 2022, Slovak International Air Fest (SIAF) will be held at Malacky-Kuchyna. According to the programme, the Vzdušné sily Ozbrojených síl Slovenskej Republiky (SAF, Slovak Air Force) will participate with the MiG-29AS operated by the 1. Bojová letka/81. Kridlo Sliac at Sliac air base. This will be the last event to see the Slovakian MiG-29s operational.
As known, the Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger announced on 3 July 2022 that he will donate twelve MiG-29 fighter aircraft and thirty T-72 tanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to local media, deliveries of the MiG-29s will start in September 2022.
According to the latest information, the Vzdušné síly armády České republiky (CZAF, Czech Air Force) will take over the security of Slovak airspace from September. Earlier, in May 2022, Poland offered to take on this task. Most probably, CzAF Gripen fighters will start and then Polish F-16s will take over.
Slovakia owns a dozen MiG-29AS/UBS, which as of 2005 received an upgrade to standardise them to NATO norms. The work was carried out by the RAC MiG manufacturer and Western companies. This version features Rockwell Collins navigation and communication systems, a BAE Systems identification friend-or-foe (IFF) system, a new glass cockpit with LCD multifunction displays and a new digital mission computer. These modifications allow them to be integrated into NATO’s air command and control structure.
Their armament however, was not modernised and the MiG-29s still use the same type of missiles, inherited from the period thet were still owned by Czechoslovakia.
According to the Scramble Magazine database the Slovak Air Force only have eleven modernised MiG-29s in their inventory, nine single seat MiG-29AS and two MiG-29UBS. Next to these there are three MiG-29s stored, but these are not modernised. Serials of the MiG-29AS and MiG-29UBS are:
The Slovak Air Force will receive fourteen Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 Fighting Falcons. The first aircraft were originally reported to be delivered in 2022 and 2023, but this might be delayed.
Photo by Hans Antonissen (Scramble Archive)