New Delhi (TDI): The Indian Air Force will formally retire its remaining MiG-21 fighter jets this September, closing the chapter on a jet that served the nation for nearly sixty years.
A decommissioning ceremony is expected to take place on September 19 at the Chandigarh airbase, Dawn reported while citing senior military sources.
Inducted into the Air Force in 1963, the MiG-21 was India’s first supersonic fighter and has been part of every major conflict involving the country since then. Over the decades, India bought more than 700 aircraft of this model from the Soviet Union, including variants like the Type-77, BIS, and Bison.
Although once considered a technological marvel, the aircraft has grown outdated, and its safety record has been a matter of concern. Crashes over the years have led to the deaths of more than 100 pilots, in addition to civilian casualties.
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In one of the more recent incidents, a MiG-21 crashed near Suratgarh in May 2023, killing three people on the ground. Another crash in 2022 claimed the lives of two Air Force officers.
Originally designed as an interceptor, the MiG-21 evolved into a multi-role fighter over time. The Bison variant, which makes up the final two active squadrons, underwent several upgrades in avionics and combat systems. However, limitations in engine power and airframe design meant its modernization had boundaries.
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The retirement plan had been on the table for years and was supposed to be completed by 2022. However, delays in the production and induction of newer aircraft like the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas) pushed the timeline further.
Between 2017 and 2024, four squadrons of MiG-21s were phased out. With the remaining units now set to retire, the IAF’s active fighter squadron count will dip from 31, well below the approved strength of 42.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
