The Mikoyan MiG-29 twin-engine fighter was designed for the Soviet Air Force during the Cold War.

Azerbaijan may be retiring some of its older Soviet-era aircraft, but these jets are not headed to the scrapyard. Instead, the Ukrainian Air Force is opting to operate Baku’s fleet of MiG-29s. Early this month, footage depicting these fighters in Ukrainian service circulated, following a rise in tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan. In the image, a single-seat Ukrainian Air Force Fulcrum jet appears to be performing a combat mission accompanied by a full armament of short-range R-73 and medium-range R-28 air-to-air missiles. These MiG-29s will not be the only of the platform to be delivered to Kyiv, as Fulcrums have already been donated by Poland and Slovakia. In total, Warsaw transferred 14 of its MiG-29s to Kyiv. Slovakia followed and delivered 13 of its own Fulcrums to aid the nation’s defensive efforts against Russia.

The Mikoyan MiG-29 twin-engine fighter was designed for the Soviet Air Force during the Cold War. As the arms race between the USSR and the United States was heating up, Soviet engineers were tasked with developing an air superiority fighter capable of going up with its advanced American F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon counterparts. The resulting MiG-29 was designated by NATO as the “Fulcrum” and officially entered service with the Soviet Air Force in the early 1980s. Able to fly at speeds in excess of Mach 2.25 (times the speed of sound), the Soviet jet was considered to be quite impressive upon its introduction. Two Isotov RD-22 turbofans power the platform, which provide roughly 18,300 pounds of thrust each with an afterburner.