Twenty years after leaving the Warsaw Pact and ten years after joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Poland is a democratic, market-oriented country, cooperating closely with western nations in many areas. Together with armed forces of other former Eastern Bloc members, Poland’s modern, professional army participates in all major United Nations peacekeeping missions. Poland is also one of the main allies in the War on Terrorism, with thousands of troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the last few years, the Polish Air Force has acquired Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 52+ multi-role fighters, C-130E Hercules cargo aircraft, and other items key to the Polish military's restructuring and revitalization.

But one thing hasn’t changed yet. Although at the end of last year Poland received the last three of its 48 new F-16 fighters, an aircraft from the other side of the “Iron Curtain” still plays a main role in guarding Polish air space. The mighty Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum, the famous "Smoker," now serves shoulder to shoulder with its former aerial opponent, the F-16.

Poland’s MiG-29s - A Visit to 23.Blot - 1.elt Minsk

The Mighty MiG

The MiG-29A, originally designed in the 1970s, is equipped with two Klimov RD-33 engines that give it a maximum speed of Mach 2.25 and a maximum range of 2,100 km (1,300 miles). Retractable intake screens and rugged landing gear give the MiG a rough-field capability that allows it to take off and land from regular roads or unprepared airstrips.

The Polish Air Force is one of the 26 operators of the Fulcrum worldwide. It has a total of 32 aircraft, 26 MiG-29A and MiG-29G air defense fighters and eight MiG-29UB and MiG-29GT two-seat trainers. Fourteen of Poland’s aircraft, the MiG-29G/GTs, were sold to Poland in 2004 by the German Luftwaffe for the symbolic price of 1 EUR. Those aircraft had come into the German Air Force following the reunification and the merger of the East and West German militaries in 1990. Another ten of the Polish MiGs, one trainer and nine single-seaters, are former Czech Air Force aircraft, acquired in exchange for a number of Polish-made PZL W-3A "Sokol" helicopters in 1996.

The Fulcrums are grouped into two squadrons, located at two bases in Poland. One of them, the 1st Tactical Squadron (1.elt), is based at the 23rd Air Base in Minsk Mazowiecki, near the capital of Warszawa (Warsaw). 1.elt continues the tradition of the 7th Squadron “Tadeusz Kosciuszko,” formed in 1920. Since 1.elt was initially based in Warsaw and its original role was to protect the city, the squadron uses the name “Warszawa” and all its aircraft are marked with the city’s “Mermaid” symbol.

23rd Air Base

In addition to the MiGs, Minsk Mazowiecki is home to the 2nd Search and Rescue Group, equipped with PZL W-3WA "Sokol" SAR helicopters. The base hosts also various meetings and squadron exchanges, including visits from foreign air forces. Most recently Illinois National Guard airmen and specialists flew to Minsk aboard two C-130H Hercules transports from the 182nd Airlift Wing to participate in the “Esculap '09'”mass-casualty exercise. The Guardsmen trained with members of the Polish Military Medical Services, Czech and Slovak forces, and civilian agencies such as the Red Cross. As part of the exercises, the Peoria-based C-130 aircraft were configured for aeromedical evacuation of patients and performed simulated MEDEVAC flights.

Fulcrums Today and Tomorrow

Today, the main role of the 1st Tactical Squadron is to protect Polish airspace, together with the 41st Air Squadron (41.elt), based in Malbork. Every day, two aircrafts serve as duty interceptors, waiting fully fueled and armed to take off within minutes of a call. Polish MiG-29s also guard other European countries, in a NATO Air Policing role. Last year, four Fulcrums from 41.elt were deployed to Lithuania for four months, to protected Baltic air space. It was the Fulcrum’s second such rotation.

As NATO’s biggest MiG-29 operator, the Polish Air Force has upgraded all its Fulcrums for NATO compatibility, equipping them with the Rockwell Collins ANV-241MMR VOR/ILS navigation system, AN/ARN-153 (TCN 500) TACAN, Thompson-CSF SB-14 radar warning receiver, an Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system, and other avionics.

It is hard to not compare the MiG-29 with the F-16 when talking about an Air Force that owns both aircraft. When asked which one is better, Fulcrum drivers smile and Viper pilots are very quiet. There is no doubt that the F-16 is superior at long range, thanks to its long-range radar and modern radar-guided AIM-120 weapons. But in a dogfight, there is only one winner: the Smoker. Viper drivers almost pull their sticks out when trying to catch the highly maneuverable Fulcrums, or run away from them.

The Fulcrum will continue in service with the Polish Air Force until at least 2012, if not 2015. Modernization of the aircraft, to extend the service another 10-15 years, has been considered, but this will depend on cooperation with Mikoyan. Once the mighty Smoker reached the end of its life, it will probably be replaced with the multi-role Joint Strike Fighter, the F-35 Lightning II, or a similar aircraft.