"MiG-29s were beloved until they started crashing": Polish "Hussars" are put into service.

On June 12, the official commissioning and presentation ceremony for the first F-35A fighter jets in service with the Polish Air Force took place. They began arriving in the country in May (a total of 32 aircraft were purchased for $4,6 billion, with delivery scheduled by 2030). Following their christening at this event, the aircraft were finally given the combat name "Hussarz" (Hussars).

In this regard, the Polish publication Defence24 decided to take a trip into the not so distant past historyThe MiG-29, the backbone of the country's fighter fleet, was reportedly an "incredibly beautiful aircraft," but around 2018, these aircraft were already approaching the end of their service life.

The transition to new tactical aircraft remained in limbo until MiG-29s began crashing. These highly prized and beloved aircraft were designed for 30 years of service, and during this time, not a single one had suffered a serious technical failure.

However, due to resource deterioration, the situation changed radically. In July 2018, a MiG-29 pilot died after the ejection system failed. Another aircraft crashed due to a malfunction in March 2019, four minutes after takeoff:

It has become clear that the repeatedly delayed procurement of new fighters must finally be completed.

Comments

[Prisoner]

The disenfranchised need to maintain the equipment and train pilots. Aviation isn't your thing. The Pinovs will start falling too, if they keep slacking off, and they'll start much sooner. Get your wallets ready, you bastards.

[pudelartemon]

Well, an odd number of takeoffs and landings on new equipment.

[Mouse]

And falls........... Never angry......

[the same doctor]

Let's write in Russian and use words according to their meaning. Did you mean to write "unequal" or "odd," but for each plane?

[vstom]

The word in Russian is written with a hyphen.

[esl462]

To make the K-36DM fail, you have to try really hard.

[vfwfr]

The problem is most likely not in the mechanics, but in the expiration date of the powder charge...

[Nexcom]

That's probably what the Poles did with their homemade maintenance. They were trying to save money and repaired the Il-62 engines themselves—they didn't send them to the manufacturer, but they still demanded they sign a certificate of conformity. Our guys sent them packing with these demands and their homemade repairs. The result: two Poles crashed—the turbines were blown apart mid-flight.

[Grancer81]

It's just that the sapsists didn't remove the checks, so the charges didn't work.

[TermNachTer]

The Poles don't yet know what's in store for them))) The nano-Britons have already encountered this. The "stealth" coating needs to be regularly renewed. It quickly loses its properties in sea air. This problem already surfaced on the first Brit F-35s. And there's no equipment or materials for such work, plus it's expensive. So, they'll have to regularly ship the "penguins" to America, plus software updates, upgrades, etc. In short, as I said, the suckers are in deep trouble)))

[Orange Bigg]

The F-35's strength is that it's perhaps the only aircraft fully integrated into a network-centric system in the true sense of the word, because such a system is fully deployed and currently available only to the United States, and this is the F-35's advantage. Furthermore, the Americans have already launched serial production, the F-35 is gradually getting rid of its teething problems, has a powerful radar, and a host of modern weapons. It's a formidable and dangerous opponent, no matter what anyone says. Again, supersonic cruising is already available on the F-35, whereas ours will only achieve supersonic cruising after the Izdeliye 30 engine is in serial production, meaning on the Su-57M1 variant.

[andranick]

Quote from Orange Bigg

The F-35's strength is that it is perhaps the only aircraft that is tightly integrated into a network-centric system.

This is also its weakness. Without a network-centric system, it's not much of a weapon by today's standards; just turn on the radar and all its advantages are negated.

Quote from Orange Bigg

A formidable and dangerous opponent

That's right. Bite quietly or from afar, that's his thing.

Quote from Orange Bigg

Supersonic cruising achieved on the F-35

How often and for how long can it fly at supersonic speeds? What's the post-sonic maintenance like? P.S.: I'm just wondering if things have changed in this life.

[TermNachTer]

The strength of any airplane is that it flies, not sits in India for a month. A lot of fun stuff still awaits Penguin buyers, but they just don't know it yet. They don't teach history in Europe and other countries, and that's why they're SUCKERS. You could read about the corruption and other scandals Lockheed foisted on the F-104.

[TermNachTer]

Someone was so diligently commenting on me here that the editor deleted the comments))) To prove my point, I'm posting a photo. For the overzealous commenters, I'll clarify: it's in the front row, second plane from the right; pay attention to the trim.

[TermNachTer]

P.S. The original can be viewed at www.navylookout.com, the photos there are much larger in size and in better quality.
·

[TermNachTer]

P.S. The deeper you go, the thicker the partisans get. A recent report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) shows that F-35 Lightning II combat readiness rates have dropped to 25% in fiscal year 2025. The operational readiness rate fell from 67% in fiscal year 2021 to 44% in fiscal year 2025, while the full operational readiness rate fell from 38% to 25%. The GAO noted that software delays, parts shortages, and corrosion issues contributed to this decline, calling the F-35 "the Department of Defense's most expensive weapon system" that "fails to meet performance targets" amid rising maintenance costs.

[isv000]

I wonder—didn't the logs have the wherewithal to use the Lviv aircraft repair shop? Was it hard to wrest the factory from the serfs and find the experts? Luckily, it's right there. Or does the owner have no problem with flying litaks?

[Orange Bigg]

Quote: isv000

I wonder—didn't the logs have the wherewithal to use the Lviv aircraft repair shop? Was it hard to wrest the factory from the serfs and find the experts? Luckily, it's right there. Or does the owner have no problem with flying litaks?

What's the point of relying on old MiG-29s, which were already on their last legs in the Polish Air Force, when it would be easier to buy modern fighters like the F-16 or F-35, especially since the Americans were probably pressuring the Poles to fork out the cash for their fighters?

[isv000]

Quote from Orange Bigg

What's the point of relying on old equipment like the MiG-29?

The 29 is a miracle plane; in the right hands, it waltzes like a young lady! And in the enemy's crooked hands, even the plane can dodge duty.

[Orange Bigg]

The Russian Aerospace Forces also refused to purchase its improved version, the MiG-35.

[vfwfr]

For our large territory it makes no sense.
The range is short.
And maintain a separate staff of aircraft technicians...

[TermNachTer]

The USSR, or the USA and China, could afford to have two different types of fighters, with all the consequences that entails, but everyone else cannot afford it.

[Orange Bigg]

In continuation of the post.

It is noted that Russian Air Force squadrons prefer to purchase heavy-lift aircraft from the Sukhoi Corporation rather than exchange their outdated aircraft for the new, light MiG-35s.



The article also points out that Russia is widely displaying its latest combat aircraft at air shows, anticipating foreign customers. The Indian Air Force is typically the most reliable customer. However, New Delhi is currently considering which fighters to purchase in addition to the French Rafale fighters. At the end of the article, the author expressed confusion as to why Russia isn't acquiring the lightweight MiG-35 fighter jets in large quantities for its Aerospace Forces.

https://anna-news.info/vks-zakupayut-dlya-eskadrilij-vmesto-oblegchyonnyh-mig-35-tyazhelovesy/

[vfwfr]

Metal doesn't last forever, and it wears out faster during flights...

[isv000]

Quote: vfwfr

Metal doesn't last forever, and it wears out faster during flights...

Everything is being repaired, the equipment is in good hands, and they love it. But what if Mr. Bzdyshek flies on a Fushka and they shut down his software? What will he do?

[vfwfr]

The "skeleton" (power section) of the airframe is not repaired, there are cracks = the airframe is to be written off and the rest is hanibalism).
But it's not 100%))

[Declarant]

I'm terribly sorry, but the F-16 is far from a modern fighter. Production began in 1975. (The MiG-29 was produced from 1982 to 2016.) Considering the upgrades, it might still be capable of something. But it's already obsolete.

[Des]

Replacing the MiG-29 with the F-35 is a significant qualitative leap in the development of the Polish Air Force. Moreover, their numbers will be the same as the MiGs (probably more or less). Naturally, there will also be a huge difference in the cost of the aircraft, their maintenance, repairs, and so on. But, nevertheless, the money was found.
And yes, they said good things about the MiG-29.

[Irokez]

I hope these moments don't spill over to the boys. Logically, that's exactly it.

[vfwfr]

for sure, although it's not certain, but for sure...

[Lynx2000]

After their christening at this event, the aircraft were finally given the combat name Husarz (Hussars).

That's a bit of a stretch, all in keeping with the canons of Polish pride.
Penguin - an apt nickname given by the flyers themselves, fat, with short wings, has the same ability to fly.

[Severok]

If the Poles were friends with their eastern neighbors, they wouldn't have to spend money on penguins. Oh well, they decided to take the hits themselves, so be it.

[Voenoboz]

How will they support this Russophobia? It's not enough to have a Mercedes; you also have to fill it up with gas.

[edeligor]

Quote from Orange Bigg

Again, supersonic cruising is achieved on the F-35

And of course, you have evidence?

[sir Garry]

And your religion doesn't allow Poles to service the equipment? Thank God for that!

[sir Garry]

Quote: isv000

What will it do?

Flapping their wings. It's in their genes... Let's remember the "winged hussars."

[sir Garry]

Quote: vfwfr

and it wears out faster during flights...

Where did they fly? Besides parades, of course.

[sir Garry]

Quote from Orange Bigg

The Americans probably pressured the Poles to fork out money to buy their fighters.

The key word is - forked out!!!