Ukrainian Air Force Reveals Black MiG-29

Fighter jet’s new livery includes a 'Ghost of Kyiv' emblem on the nose.

Kimberly Johnson

Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 05:18 PM ET

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Kimberly Johnson

Ukrainian Air Force has unveiled a new matte-black paint scheme for one of its MiG-29 fighters—and it’s gaining attention. [Ukrainian Air Force/ screenshot]

Key Takeaways:

The Ukrainian Air Force has unveiled a new matte-black paint scheme for one of its MiG-29 fighters, marking a departure from traditional camouflage.
The new livery incorporates blue-and-yellow stripes for rapid visual identification and prominently features a "Ghost of Kyiv" emblem on its nose.
The "Ghost of Kyiv" emblem honors the legend of an unnamed Ukrainian pilot credited with downing multiple Russian aircraft early in the 2022 invasion.
Speculation suggests the anomalous matte-black color serves a psychological purpose to intimidate Russian pilots or symbolizes Ukraine's continued resilience.

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The Ukrainian Air Force has unveiled a new matte-black paint scheme for one of its MiG-29 fighters—and it’s gaining attention.

The livery, unveiled in a Ukrainian Air Force’s 204th Tactical Aviation Brigade Facebook post and first reported by defense news website The War Zone, includes blue-and-yellow stripes on its wing leading edges, flaps, and ailerons to “provide a rapid visual identification.” On its nose is a white “Ghost of Kyiv” emblem.