Slovakia to send 13 MiG jets to Ukraine
Source: The Telegraph
Slovakia will donate all 13 of its MiG-29 warplanes to Ukraine, becoming the second Nato member after Poland to pledge the fighter jets despite the Kremlin warning they would be "destroyed".
"We're giving these MiGs to Ukraine so that it can protect civilians against the many bombs that fall on their houses and which are the reason why people are dying in Ukraine," Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger told journalists on Friday.
He said Bratislava would also deliver a Kub air defence system to Ukraine.
It comes just a day after Poland said it would send four Soviet-made MiG-29 jets to Ukraine "in the coming days".
Read more: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/03/17/ukraine-russia-war-latest-ukraine-russia-war-latest-news-putin/
cilla4progress
(24,728 posts)if he's gonna keep going...
montanacowboy
(6,085 posts)I think we are behind this, as we can't be seen to be giving them the fighters, but I bet behind the scenes we are helping expedite this. If so, good for us.
Demanchor
(127 posts)I heard some Ukrainians were being trained at an airfield in Tucson and assumed we were going to give them planes. Where did I go wrong?
Jack the Greater
(601 posts)Probably a long term project that will not result in any F-16s being sent to Ukraine this year or even next. What makes sense is for MiGs to be sent to Ukraine because their pilots already know how to fly them, Spare parts are in place, and mechanics there know how to maintain them.
Demanchor
(127 posts)To give them equipment theyre familiar with and prepared for. I guess I didnt understand the mention of not wanting to be seen doing something for Ukraine.
Conjuay
(1,384 posts)Russia might gain some technological info they dont already have.
Just a thought.
masmdu
(2,536 posts)Jack the Greater
(601 posts)Poland and Slovakia can be resupplied with F-16s, and not having a pressing need for jet fighters at the moment, they have plenty of time to train flying them. In fact, Slovakia purchased 14 F-16s in 2018 to replace their MiG-29s, and may have received the first of them. I would not be at all surprised if the US provided an incentive for them to give the MiG-29s to Ukraine.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)onetexan
(13,037 posts)republianmushroom
(13,590 posts)thucythucy
(8,048 posts)It makes perfect sense they'd want to do everything they can--short of war--to keep the bear away from their own doors.
Aristus
(66,327 posts)of trained pilots all ready to go.
sprinkleeninow
(20,242 posts)Evolve Dammit
(16,725 posts)onetexan
(13,037 posts)Beachnutt
(7,320 posts)FakeNoose
(32,634 posts)Thanks Slovakia, for stepping up!
PortTack
(32,762 posts)F-16s take approx a year of training, and they need full time maintenance crews as well.
onetexan
(13,037 posts)Thx
PortTack
(32,762 posts)onetexan
(13,037 posts)EX500rider
(10,842 posts)aka The First American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Republic of China Air Force
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Tigers
SunSeeker
(51,550 posts)Trailrider1951
(3,414 posts)of Italy. That country used to be part of Yugoslavia. Slovakia is north of there. It used to be part of Czechoslovakia.