4 ms·

Romania has a fleet of heavily upgraded MIG 21s that would also fit the bill. Once they get the F16s they bought, they will no longer have a use for them. EDI

Romania has a fleet of heavily upgraded MIG 21s that would also fit the bill. Once they get the F16s they bought, they will no longer have a use for them. EDIT: add link https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/romania-should-give-the-mig-21-lancers-it-just-grounded-to-ukraine https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/romania-should-give-th...

Mikeb85 4y ago
MiG 21s are not only one of the shittiest fighters ever built, they're significantly older (and far worse) than anything Ukraine currently operates... Ukraine is currently using 4th generation fighters (Su-27 and MiG-29) that were both upgraded in the 2010's and are more akin to 4.5 generation... The F-16 isn't even an upgrade per se, they're just numerous and Ukraine only has so many fighters left...
rob74 4y ago
You are referring to the "LanceR" MIG 21s upgraded in Israel I guess. Built in the 60s (actually until the 80s, but by then I guess they were badly outdated), upgraded in the 90s - I'm not sure how I would feel if I was an Ukrainian pilot ordered to fly into combat on such a plane...
- tomohawk 4y ago
  When the US and India did joint exercises, the US F15 drivers were quite surprised at the capabilities of the MIG 21s. https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/25274/f-15s-arrive-for-rebooted-cope-india-air-combat-drill-as-us-indian-relations-tighten https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/25274/f-15s-arrive-for...
- actionfromafar 4y ago
  You could still defend returning fighters / bombers. The missiles on the MIG21 could still be decent if allowed to carry them. Ukraine alreday used western anti-radation missiles successfully on their MIGs.
yreg 4y ago
Slovakia is going to receive F-16s in 2024 the earliest, but we have transferred our MiGs to Ukraine already, after signing an agreement where Poland and Czech Republic committed to protect our skies in the mean time. Thanks!
danielu 4y ago
Those upgraded MIGs use technology provided by Elbit Systems which means that Israel can oppose such a transfer. Anyway, the planes are really old and set to be decomissioned in a couple of years, so it could be pointless to train new (Ukrainian) pilots to fly them.

Mikeb85 4y ago

MiG 21s are not only one of the shittiest fighters ever built, they're significantly older (and far worse) than anything Ukraine currently operates... Ukraine is currently using 4th generation fighters (Su-27 and MiG-29) that were both upgraded in the 2010's and are more akin to 4.5 generation... The F-16 isn't even an upgrade per se, they're just numerous and Ukraine only has so many fighters left...

rob74 4y ago

You are referring to the "LanceR" MIG 21s upgraded in Israel I guess. Built in the 60s (actually until the 80s, but by then I guess they were badly outdated), upgraded in the 90s - I'm not sure how I would feel if I was an Ukrainian pilot ordered to fly into combat on such a plane...

tomohawk 4y ago
When the US and India did joint exercises, the US F15 drivers were quite surprised at the capabilities of the MIG 21s. https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/25274/f-15s-arrive-for-rebooted-cope-india-air-combat-drill-as-us-indian-relations-tighten https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/25274/f-15s-arrive-for...
actionfromafar 4y ago
You could still defend returning fighters / bombers. The missiles on the MIG21 could still be decent if allowed to carry them. Ukraine alreday used western anti-radation missiles successfully on their MIGs.

yreg 4y ago

Slovakia is going to receive F-16s in 2024 the earliest, but we have transferred our MiGs to Ukraine already, after signing an agreement where Poland and Czech Republic committed to protect our skies in the mean time. Thanks!

danielu 4y ago

Those upgraded MIGs use technology provided by Elbit Systems which means that Israel can oppose such a transfer. Anyway, the planes are really old and set to be decomissioned in a couple of years, so it could be pointless to train new (Ukrainian) pilots to fly them.