How Many MiG-29s Does Ukraine Have Left?
Possibly plenty
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk has signaled that Poland is willing to transfer its remaining Mikoyan MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine. The main condition is that NATO deploy fighters to patrol Polish air space. After all, the last 15 or so Polish MiG-29s are still actively performing local air-policing duties, Tusk explained.
If Ukraine gets those last Polish MiGs, it will bring to around 42 the total number of MiG-29s Ukraine’s allies have donated since Russia widened its war on Ukraine in February 2022. Poland previously sent 14 MiGs. Slovakia sent 13, some of which were unflyable and suitable only as sources of spares.
The twin-engine, supersonic MiG-29 has always been the Ukrainian air force’s main fighter type. As the wider war grinds into its third year, it’s worth asking how many MiGs the Ukrainians have left.
1991: USSR leaves behind hundreds of MiGs. Max. Ukrainian inventory: 209
2000: Ukraine sells five MiGs to Algeria. Max. Ukrainian inventory: 204
2007: Ukraine sells 14 MiGs to Azerbaijan. Max. Ukrainian inventory: 190
2010: Ukraine has grounded at least 46 MiGs; 80 active. Max. inventory: ~126
2014: Russia invades, captures then returns 46 MiGs. Max inventory: ~126
2014: Ukraine loses two MiGs in action. Max. Ukrainian inventory: ~124
2022: The Military Balance claims Ukraine has 36 active MiGs. Max. inventory: ~124
2022-2024: Ukraine loses 28 MiGs, receives 27. Max. Ukrainian inventory: ~123
2024: World Air Forces estimates 47 active Ukrainian MiGs. Max inventory: ~123
2024: Poland mulls transfer of another 15 or so MiGs. Possible max inventory: ~138
To be very clear, it is highly likely that most of the inactive MiG-29s that theoretically still are in the inventory are irrecoverable: they’re rusty, stripped of useful parts, possibly lacking engines and probably sitting around various airfields as decoys.
But even if most of the inactive MiGs are virtually impossible to return to active service, the sheer size of Ukraine’s post-Soviet MiG fleet—more than 200 airframes at its peak—means that just a small percentage of inactive airframes would need to be recoverable to give the air force a robust pool of spares.
The Ukrainian air force needs just 50 or 60 MiG-29s to keep all three of its MiG brigades at full strength. It went to war in 2022 with around 36 MiGs, lost 28 to enemy action, got 27 as donations from its allies and rebuilt, using stored airframes, potentially tens more. Around 15 more may arrive soon from Poland.
So it’s possible Ukraine has all the MiGs it needs for now. Probably plenty enough to keep the air force flying and fighting until the 85 Lockheed Martin F-16s and dozen or so Dassault Mirage 2000s that Ukraine’s European allies have pledged begin arriving.
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