Slovakia bids farewell to its Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29 fighter jets after over 30 years of service
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- Date: 27.08.2022
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The Ministry of Defence and members of the broader public have bidden farewell to the Slovak Air Force's iconic MiG-29 Fulcrums, which have been the mainstay of Slovakia's supersonic tactical aviation until their grounding today. The MiG-29s made their last fight during the Slovak International Air Fest (SIAF) 2022 at Malacky - Kuchyňa Air Base before being withdrawn from operational service.
Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “The MiG-29s have a long good record of service in the Slovak Air Force to the benefit of protecting Slovak airspace. Our pilots have logged over 20,240 flying hours on the aircraft, both on exercises and operations. However, for Slovakia, there are no prospects for the operation of Soviet-era equipment into the future. With their operability and warfighting capability degraded by low reliability, these air assets are incompatible with our NATO allies and can no longer be upgraded.” He went on to point out that operating the required MiG-29 capabilities under the current circumstances would be very demanding – logistically, economically and personnel-wise.
The grounding of the Slovak Air Force's MiG-29 fleet after over 30 years of service was preceded by the signing of the Joint Declaration by the Czech Republic, the Republic of Poland and the Slovak Republic on Shared Commitment to Protect Slovak Airspace. The Czech and Polish Air Force will be tasked with patrolling Slovak skies from 1 September 2022 to 31 December 2023. Czechia, with its JAS-39 Gripens, and Poland, with its F-16s, will backfill the tactical fighter capability until such time as Slovakia regains it once U.S.-made F-16s enter operational service with the Slovak Air Force.
Altogether, 24 single-seater and twin-seater MiG-29s were delivered to Slovakia as part of the division of the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic's property and the settlement of the Russian debt. The MiG-29s were upgraded in the years 2004-2006, including with NATO compatible communication and navigation systems. Slovakia's 11 remaining MiG-29s will reach the projected end of service life between 2029 - 2035.
The Ministry of Defence is in talks with allies on how best to use its decommissioned fleet of MiG-29 fighter jets.
Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “The MiG-29s have a long good record of service in the Slovak Air Force to the benefit of protecting Slovak airspace. Our pilots have logged over 20,240 flying hours on the aircraft, both on exercises and operations. However, for Slovakia, there are no prospects for the operation of Soviet-era equipment into the future. With their operability and warfighting capability degraded by low reliability, these air assets are incompatible with our NATO allies and can no longer be upgraded.” He went on to point out that operating the required MiG-29 capabilities under the current circumstances would be very demanding – logistically, economically and personnel-wise.
The grounding of the Slovak Air Force's MiG-29 fleet after over 30 years of service was preceded by the signing of the Joint Declaration by the Czech Republic, the Republic of Poland and the Slovak Republic on Shared Commitment to Protect Slovak Airspace. The Czech and Polish Air Force will be tasked with patrolling Slovak skies from 1 September 2022 to 31 December 2023. Czechia, with its JAS-39 Gripens, and Poland, with its F-16s, will backfill the tactical fighter capability until such time as Slovakia regains it once U.S.-made F-16s enter operational service with the Slovak Air Force.
Altogether, 24 single-seater and twin-seater MiG-29s were delivered to Slovakia as part of the division of the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic's property and the settlement of the Russian debt. The MiG-29s were upgraded in the years 2004-2006, including with NATO compatible communication and navigation systems. Slovakia's 11 remaining MiG-29s will reach the projected end of service life between 2029 - 2035.
The Ministry of Defence is in talks with allies on how best to use its decommissioned fleet of MiG-29 fighter jets.
