Why in news?
The Indian Air Force (IAF) announced that it would retire the iconic MiG‑21 fighter jet from operational service on 26 September 2025, bringing to an end more than six decades of service.
About the MiG‑21
- Design and development: The MiG‑21 is a supersonic jet fighter designed by the Soviet Mikoyan–Gurevich Design Bureau. Its first prototype flew in 1955, and it was inducted into the IAF in 1963.
- Service in India: India’s first squadron of MiG‑21s, No. 28 Squadron based at Chandigarh, was nicknamed “The First Supersonics.” Nearly 900 aircraft have served in India, with around 660 assembled locally under licence.
- Combat history: MiG‑21s played decisive roles in the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan, including strikes on Dhaka that hastened victory. They saw limited action in the 1999 Kargil conflict and, in 2019, a MiG‑21 Bison shot down a Pakistani F‑16 in the aftermath of the Balakot air strikes.
- Technical features: The aircraft’s delta‑wing design and nose intake enable speeds of over Mach 2 (about 2,175 km/h). Later Bison variants were upgraded with Israeli jammers, Russian air‑to‑air missiles, partially glass cockpits and helmet‑mounted sights.
- Legacy: Despite being dubbed the “Flying Coffin” due to accidents, the MiG‑21 remained a symbol of bravery and Indo‑Russian defence cooperation. It played a key role in building India’s aerospace capabilities.
Conclusion: The retirement of the MiG‑21 marks the end of an era for the IAF. Its long and varied service record reflects both the challenges and achievements of India’s air power development.