Germany allows Poland to export old fighter jets to Ukraine for recycling

Another shipment of arms goes to Ukraine. Berlin has approved the deployment of Polish MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine. This was officially confirmed by the German Ministry of Defense.

Poland’s defense ministry did not immediately comment.

Germany inherited 24 MiG-29 jets from the East German GDR during reunification in 1990. At the time, the aircraft were seen as among the most advanced fighter jets in the world.

In 2004, Berlin passed on 22 of the aircraft to Poland. Of the remaining two jets, one was destroyed in a crash, and one is on show at a museum.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stressed that the decision was taken jointly by the federal government.

According to the laws of Germany, a country using German weapons, when transferring them to a third country, must ask for the approval of Berlin.

Poland has reportedly already delivered several MiG-29s to Ukraine. According to the President of Poland for International Affairs Marcin Przydacz, further delivery of other aircraft by Warsaw is possible.