The German government has approved Poland’s re-export application to supply fighter jets to Ukraine. The MiG-29 fighter jets are from former National People’s Army stocks.
The application to transfer the weapons systems was received in Berlin on April 13, 2023. Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) expressed satisfaction that the joint decision was reached in the German government on the same day.
The request followed the announcement by Polish President Andrzej Duda of his intention to hand over all Polish MiG-29s to Ukraine. This took place during a visit by Volodymyr Selenskyj to Warsaw.
The Polish government is dependent on German approval for the re-export because in 2003 the transfer of MiG-29s from the former National People’s Army was stipulated in the transfer contract. The said contract stipulates that any transfer of MiG- 29s to third parties by Poland requires the written consent of the German side. For this reason, on April 13, 2023, Poland submitted a re-export request to Germany for the transfer of MiG-29 fighter jets from former NVA stocks to Ukraine. The request was granted the same day.
The MiG-29 is a Soviet-designed interceptor fighter that entered service in 1983. The jet is the only National People’s Army fighter that was able to find a place in the arsenal of the Air Force of the Federal Republic of Germany after reunification.
“I am pleased to inform you that we are able to commit to our Polish partners the delivery of five MiG-29s from former NVA stocks to Ukraine. We received the request only today. I welcome the fact that we in the German government have reached this decision together,” said the Defense Minister. The swift action proves that Germany can be relied upon.
