Slovakia to send 13 MiG jets to Ukraine

[Jack the Greater]

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]

1. I guess pooty is going to have to take on all of eastern Europe

if he's gonna keep going...

[montanacowboy]

2. I have a theory about this

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]

4. Why can't we be seen doing that?

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]

7. I read similar. Two Uke pilots if i remember correctly.

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]

22. That's wise and logical

To give them equipment they’re familiar with and prepared for. I guess I didn’t understand the mention of “not wanting to be seen” doing something for Ukraine.

[Conjuay]

24. if one is brought down

Russia might gain some technological info they don’t already have.

Just a thought.

[masmdu]

27. Um, Mig 29s are Russian aircraft

[Jack the Greater]

6. Also to consider is that Ukrainian pilots are very familiar with MiGs, not so much with F-16s

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]

3. Excellent! 👏👏👏👏

[onetexan]

14. Ditto!!

[republianmushroom]

5. like it

[thucythucy]

8. Eastern Europeans have had lots of experience with Russian expansionism.

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]

9. In more good news, I read somewhere that Ukraine has a large pool

of trained pilots all ready to go.

[sprinkleeninow]

10. Yes!!

[Evolve Dammit]

11. Give them the aircraft needed. JFC. All of NATO needs to get behind this. Fuck Putin.

[onetexan]

15. THIS!!☝️

[Beachnutt]

17. ☝️☝️

[FakeNoose]

12. Ukraine's pilots have been trained to fly MIGs - that's why our planes would be useless

Thanks Slovakia, for stepping up!

[PortTack]

13. Did just read that American F-16 pilots were willing to volunteer in Ukraine if the US sends jets

F-16s take approx a year of training, and they need full time maintenance crews as well.

[onetexan]

16. Can you post the article?

Thx

[PortTack]

23. Here ya go

https://euromaidanpress.com/2023/03/18/deadliest-f-16-pilot-offers-solution-to-ukraines-jet-problem/

[onetexan]

26. thanks for posting!!

[EX500rider]

18. Yeah I have thought all along we should have another "Flying Tigers" in Ukraine

aka The First American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Republic of China Air Force

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Tigers

[SunSeeker]

19. That's a better than sending them Melania like they did to us!

[Trailrider1951]

20. Oops! Wrong country. The third Mrs. Dump is from Slovenia, a small country bordering the east side

of Italy. That country used to be part of Yugoslavia. Slovakia is north of there. It used to be part of Czechoslovakia.

[SunSeeker]

21. My apologies to Slovakia for associating them with her!

[Conjuay]

25. you might have started an international incident!

[electric_blue68]

28. Ty, Slovakia! 🌻🇺🇦🌻