Retired Hungarian Fighter Jet to Strengthen Serbian Air Force

The Hungarian Defense Forces’ MiG-29B No. 18, which has undergone an extended service life and been repainted, flies with colored national insignia at the Kecskemét Air Show in 2007

Serbia has purchased a MiG-29 fighter jet from Hungary, Magyar Nemzet reports. This is not the first defense deal between the two neighboring countries in recent years, and according to the Serbian deputy defense minister, it is possible that more aircraft will be purchased from Hungary.

In the summer of 2024, the Serbian Air Force and Air Defense Force was expanded with a MiG-29 fighter, which is now our fifteenth fighter, Nenad Miloradovic, Serbia’s deputy defense minister, told Serbian portal Tango Six.

The Serbs are reported to have purchased a Hungarian fighter aircraft identical to the former Yugoslav People’s Army fighter aircraft, which will probably function as a parts donor.

Nenad Miloradovic said the deal was part of military cooperation between Hungary and Serbia. “We have acquired a large amount of various equipment, including airborne equipment, on very favorable terms. The aircraft in question is only a small part of this acquisition. Whether we will buy more aircraft will be seen soon,” he stated.

MiG-29 fighter jet in Hungary. Photo: Wikipedia

The MiG-29 aircraft purchased by the Serbs was once used to reinforce the Bumblebee (Dongó) Squadron. The flight and technical acceptance of 28 such aircraft, most of which were new production at the time, began on October 25, 1993 in Hungary. The plan was for DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (DASA) to modernize the Hungarian aircraft together with the Russian Mikoyan (Russian Aircraft Corporation, “MiG”). However, according to the National Security Office, a senior member of the Hungarian Ministry of Defense, who was also a member of parliament, accepted a bribe to facilitate the contract.

Shortly afterwards, in September 2001, the government signed a contract for the lease of Swedish JAS-39 Gripen aircraft.

The MiG-29 fleet, which were in active service, was replaced by the continuously upgraded Gripen aircraft currently in service from 2009.

Gripen aircraft. Photo: Honvedelem.hu

After that, the Hungarian MiG-29s were placed in reserve, and on December 7, 2010, the Bumblebee Squadron performed its last training flight with the aircraft, after which the 59th Air Base bid farewell to the aircraft during a ceremony.

Several attempts have been made to sell the remaining 25 MiG-29B and UBs, which were set aside at Kecskemét airport (central Hungary), but apart from spare parts, engines and armament, the aircraft, which have been withdrawn from service for more than 15 years, have not been sold. One of the planes, which once won several international awards at the European Airshow, is on display in Szolnok (eastern Hungary), and one was restored to a condition for use in flight training in 2012.

Regarding the Serbian purchase, a similar deal has already been concluded between the two countries in recent years, with Serbia purchasing 26 BTR-80A armored infantry fighting vehicles from Hungary.