WARSAW, POLAND – An exercise over Europe could provide an unexpectedly good combination to help the Ukrainian Air Force.
This is a joint data transfer effort between the American F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation stealth fighter and the Soviet MiG-29 fourth-generation fighter. Realistically, the F-35 could become a key player in Eastern Europe and the war in Ukraine.
A few days ago, a NATO exercise took place over Poland. MiG-29s from the Polish Air Force and F-35s from the Royal Netherlands Air Force flew in joint pairs during this exercise. Interestingly, this exercise had another purpose: training to carry out the Air Police, a common air action in warᴛι̇ɱe and peaceᴛι̇ɱe. F-16 and Rafale fighters also participated.
However, the exercise showed an unexpectedly good relationship between one of the F-35 and MiG-29 pairs taking off from the Malbork, Poland airbase. The two fighters exchanged data and intercepted a hypothetical enemy target. In addition to the interception of conditional targets, the two fighters coordinated actions to ensure the flights of two Polish cargo planes that were also participating in the exercise.
Data transferɱaпy experts already say combining a fourth-generation Soviet fighter and a fifth-generation Western fighter is quite intriguing. This is important because it could turn out to be an unsuspected opportunity for NATO, the allies, and the Ukrainian Air Force.
Indian Air Force veteran and military expert Vijainder K. Thakur shares a rather interesting view. According to him, this exercise demonstrated the possibility of the F-35 transmitting data to the MiG-29, thereby guiding it.
Most likely, it’s about detecting enemy targets that outdated Soviet radars can’t detect today, but F-35s can. Like drones direct artillery fire, the F-35 can direct a shot at a MiG-29, even if the target doesn’t appear on the Soviet fighter’s radar.
The MiG-29 is a weapon system.The F-35 can use the MiG-29 by flying into position behind it, and the MiG-29 is actually the weapon system. Put in simpler terms: an F-35 stationed over Poland can transmit targeting data to Ukrainian MiG 29 fighters operating over Ukraine.
Thus, the F-35 will not violate Ukrainian airspace, and at the same ᴛι̇ɱe, even if detected by the radar by a Soviet fighter, it remains in the NATO safe air zone. Thus, the F-35 becomes a visible sensor in a restricted area.
As it turns out, as far apart as they are technological, the two fighters are about as close as they are working in a joint operation. No such tests have been done so far, but the war in Ukraine has engaged ɱaпy NATO military tacticians in finding solutions to the problems that now arise in warᴛι̇ɱe.
Dutch F-35 in PolandIt is worth mentioning that, despite joint training, the two fighters are fundamentally different. First of all, its functionality is different. The MiG-29 is designed for air superiority, while the F-35 is a multirole stealth fighter.
The technology is so different that, according to some experts, even the most experienced MiG-29 pilot would have a hard ᴛι̇ɱe flying the F-35 without going through some lengthy and serious training.
Eight Royal Netherlands Air Force [RNLAF] F-35 fighters are currently deployed to Poland. They are part of the NATO operation in the region for deterrent actions in case of a possible escalation of the war in Ukraine. These planes do not remain on the ground but almost weekly carry out various training sessions or missions along the border with Ukraine daily.
Dutch F-35 air operations are controlled by the Polish Air Operations Center in Warsaw and the NATO Combined Air Operations Center in Wedem. According to various sources, some of the Dutch F-35s were on an escort mission for Russian planes flying near NATO areas over the Baltic Sea.
