Slovakia is ready to hand over 10 of its 11 Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, with one more reserved for the Slovak aviation museum.
This was stated by the Minister of Defense of Slovakia, Jaroslav Nagy, AP reports.
Read more: Where Ukraine Got the Mig-29 Spare Parts, If Poland And Slovakia Didn’t Officially Provide Their Planes
“We will never use the MiGs anymore,” Nad said. “They have no real value for us. If we give them to Ukraine, they can help save their lives,” the minister said.
If Slovakia hands over fighter jets to the Ukrainian military, it will become the first NATO member to provide combat aircraft to Ukraine.
The Slovak Army stopped operating Soviet fighter jets in the summer of 2022 due to a lack of spare parts and maintenance specialists.
A final decision on the transfer of the aircraft is expected within days or weeks.
All in all, Slovakia has given Ukraine arms worth almost 168 million euros ($179 million), and has also recouped over 82 million euros ($87 million) through a dedicated EU fund.
MiG-29 is a fourth-generation multipurpose fighter. Currently, it is in service with many countries of the world, including Ukraine.
As Defense Express reported, the Czech Republic and Poland signed an agreement to protect the airspace of Slovakia. Air forces of the two neighbor countries will patrol Slovak skies as Bratislava decommissioned Soviet MiG-29s, potentially freed up those planes for deployment to Ukraine. We also wrote, that Repair Plant for Damaged Ukrainian Military Equipment Opened in Slovakia.
Read more: Slovakia to Supply Ukraine With 30 BMP-1s IFVs, Get German Leopard 2A4 Tanks In Return
