Poland is to take over Germany's 23-aircraft RSK MiG-29 Fulcrum fleet to part-replace ageing Mikoyan MiG-21 Fishbeds. Warsaw meanwhile continues to discuss the purchase of new fighters.
A "preliminary" deal signed by Polish defence minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski also includes the purchase of 128 Leopard II battle tanks. A full contract is due shortly.
Press reports from Warsaw suggest the aircraft will cost 120 million zloty ($28.8 million). Both purchases will help bring Poland's armed forces up to the standard laid down by NATO when the country joined the alliance in 1999. The aircraft were updated to NATO standards by Germany in the early 1990s.
The MiG-29s will have to be delivered this year to meet Poland's goal of having 16 NATO-standard fighters by 2003. Around 12 of the air force's 22-strong Fulcrum fleet are said to be NATO compliant. Poland, meanwhile, continues to discuss a new fighter purchase with Dassault, Lockheed Martin and Saab/BAE Systems, which are bidding the Mirage 2000-5, F-16 and Gripen respectively.
Industry sources suggest it is still unclear as to whether Poland has abandoned plans for a batch of second-hand western-built fighters prior to acquiring 44 new aircraft. The likelihood is, however, that Poland will now buy 48 new fighters for delivery from 2006 (Flight International, 15-21 January).
Source: Flight International
