Ukraine may have bolstered its fleet of MiG-29 fighter jets thanks to an unexpected source – Azerbaijan, The War Zone reports, citing photographs and satellite imagery.
A photo of a single-seat MiG-29 of the Ukrainian Air Force with a camouflage pattern typical of Azerbaijan has recently appeared on social media. The photo shows the fighter jet performing a combat mission, armed with medium-range R-27 missiles and small R-73 air-to-air missiles. The authors note that the date and location of the shooting are unknown, and while the photo cannot be ruled out as fake, no signs of editing have been found so far.
Back in the summer of 2022, photos were posted on Twitter of three Azerbaijani MiG-29s undergoing repairs at the Lviv Aircraft Repair Plant. They remained in Ukraine after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. It appears that at least one of the aircraft survived the Russian airstrike on the plant in March 2022.
Satellite images obtained by journalists confirm the destruction of the hangar and significant damage to the enterprise, which was a priority target for Russia. The Lviv plant was the only one in Ukraine capable of overhauling the MiG-29 and cooperated with foreign customers, including Azerbaijan.
The War Zone suggests that Azerbaijan could have “unofficially” provided Ukraine with other assistance – precision bombs, mortars and fuel. The Azerbaijani MiG-29 fleet itself is of Ukrainian origin: since 2007, the country has bought about 15 aircraft from Kyiv after overhaul and modernization.
Since 2015, Azerbaijani MiG-29s have participated in exercises with the Turkish Air Force, and since 2017 they have been repaired in Lviv. Now their appearance in Ukrainian service can be explained both by close military cooperation and the aggravation of relations between Baku and Moscow.
Although the number of such aircraft is likely small, any addition of MiG-29s is of significant importance to the Ukrainian Air Force. Against the backdrop of a protracted war with Russia, even a few additional fighters can enhance the combat capabilities of Ukrainian aviation.
