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The Ukrainian military has released footage of a MiG-29 fighter jet after it made an emergency landing in the Dnipropetrovsk region during the spring of 2024.
The pilot safely exited the aircraft without injury, according to local sources.
The exact condition of the aircraft remains unclear, but some sources suggest that the airframe sustained damage. The fighter jet has reportedly been transferred for possible repairs, though its future remains uncertain.
Ukraine has faced a critical shortage of modern and operational combat aircraft amid the ongoing war with Russia. Ukrainian pilots use their limited fleet of aircraft to counter Russian missile and drone strikes, while also carrying out precision strikes on concentrations of enemy equipment and personnel.
Throughout the war, Ukraine has adapted Cold War-era MiG-29s to carry advanced Western weapons systems, making it the first country to do so successfully. These retrofitted jets now operate with weapons such as the AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM), Joint Direct Attack Munition-Extended Range (JDAM-ER) precision-guided bombs, GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs (SDB), and French-supplied AASM-250 Hammer guided bombs.
The emergency landing underscores the challenges Ukraine faces in keeping its air force operational. With limited resources and aging aircraft, the Ukrainian military has relied on innovative solutions to maintain air superiority and deliver precise strikes against Russian forces. The retrofitting of MiG-29s with modern munitions has allowed Ukraine to remain a formidable presence in the air despite the severe strains on its fleet.
