MSGID: 2:292/854 16182a36   
   TZUTC: 0200                     
   The German government has authorized Poland to export five MiG 29 fighter jets   
   from former East German military stockpiles to Ukraine. Germany had given the   
   warplanes designed by the Soviet Union to Poland in 2003 and Warsaw had asked   
   Berlin if Ukraine could use them against the Russians. "This shows that you   
   can count on Germany," said Defense Secretary Boris Pistorius.   
       
   Poland is one of the most outspoken supporters of supplying military equipment   
   to Ukraine. The country previously sent Soviet-era munitions and tanks and has   
   now delivered eight MiG 29 fighter jets to Ukraine, with six more on its way.   
       
   President Andrzej Duda said earlier this month that Poland will eventually   
   transfer its entire fleet of about 30 aircraft to its eastern neighbour, but   
   part of it has yet to receive an already ordered replacement. Since the   
   Ukrainian army uses the same type of fighter aircraft, the aircraft can in   
   principle be deployed immediately.   
       
   Germany has supplied Ukraine with a wide variety of weapons in the past year,   
   including main battle tanks, armored infantry fighting vehicles, anti-aircraft   
   guns, multiple rocket launchers and advanced anti-missile systems. After   
   initial criticism of what was described as a slow response to Russia's   
   invasion, Germany is now one of Kyiv's largest arms suppliers, along with the   
   US and the UK.   
      
   --- DB4 - 20230201   
    * Origin: AVIATION ECHO HQ (2:292/854)   
   SEEN-BY: 1/123 15/0 80/1 90/1 105/81 106/201 123/131 129/305 153/7715   
   SEEN-BY: 221/1 226/30 227/114 229/110 112 113 307 317 400 424 426   
   SEEN-BY: 229/428 470 664 700 280/464 282/1038 292/854 8125 301/1 317/3   
   SEEN-BY: 320/219 322/757 335/364 342/200 396/45 460/58 633/280 712/848   
   PATH: 292/854 229/426