Slovakian MiG-29s are soon to be in the service of the Ukrainian Air Force, according to an announcement made by the country's prime minister on 17 March. (Slovakian Ministry of Defence)

Slovakia has followed Poland's decision to send MiG-29 ‘Fulcrum' combat aircraft to Ukraine, with the government announcing that it is to transfer its entire fleet.

Slovakian Prime Minister Eduard Heger said on 17 March that 13 MiG-29s that are no longer used operationally by the Slovak Air Force are to be gifted to Ukraine. His announcement came a day after Polish President Andrzej Duda said that an initial four aircraft are being prepared for handover, with the remainder of the fleet likely to follow later.

Janes World Air Forces lists nine single-seat and two twin-seat MiG-29s in the Slovakia inventory, meaning that the ‘13' figure stated by Heger will include stored aircraft to be used for spares. Poland has 11 single-seat and three twin-seat MiG-29s in its inventory.

A screenshot taken from the onboard camera of a USAF MQ-9A Reaper UAV as it is harassed by a Russian Su-27 Flanker fighter over the Black Sea on 14 March. Despite the Reaper eventually being destroyed, the RAF says it continues to operate its manned aircraft in the region, “in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization rules”. (US DoD)

The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) continues to operate in the Black Sea region, despite the recent downing of a US Air Force (USAF) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) off the coast of Ukraine.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) told Janes on 20 March that the harassment and eventual downing of a USAF MQ-9A Reaper UAV the previous week had not impacted its operations in the region, which “continue in international airspace in accordance with [the] International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) rules”.

RAF aircraft operating in the region include Eurofighter Typhoon fighters, Airbus Voyager tankers, and L3 Technologies RC-135V/W Airseeker (Rivet Joint) intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, but not the Reaper or any other type of UAV.

The 500th NH90 for the international programme was handed over to the French Army on 17 March. The programme has 97 more to deliver under current orders. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)

NHIndustries delivered the 500th NH90 helicopter during a ceremony at the Marignane production facility in southern France on 17 March.

The consortium comprising Airbus Helicopters (62.5%), Leonardo (32%), and Fokker Aerostructures (5.5%) marked the milestone some 16 years after customer deliveries began, handing over the latest helicopter to the French Army.

“[On this 500th delivery], the NH90 has much more to give,” Axel Aloccio, president NHI, said. “It is only at the beginning of its life, so stay tuned for the future.”