Why in news?
On 26 September 2025, the Indian Air Force (IAF) formally retired its last two MiG‑21 squadrons at the Uttarlai airbase in Rajasthan, ending the aircraft’s six‑decade service.
History
- India inducted the Soviet‑built MiG‑21 in 1963, making it Asia’s first supersonic fighter aircraft. Licensed production by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited saw India build around 872 aircraft.
- Variants operated include the MiG‑21FL, M, Bis and Bison (upgraded). They formed the backbone of the IAF’s combat fleet from the 1960s through the 1990s.
- MiG‑21s played decisive roles in the 1965 and 1971 Indo‑Pak wars, the 1999 Kargil conflict and even the 2019 Balakot strike, when a MiG‑21 Bison shot down a Pakistani F‑16.
Features and performance
- A lightweight, single‑engine interceptor capable of speeds above Mach 2. Its simple design allowed quick turn‑arounds and high climb rates.
- Upgraded Bison variant added modern avionics, radar and beyond‑visual‑range missiles. However, the airframes remained old.
Concerns and accidents
- Over 200 MiG‑21 accidents over the decades led to the nickname “flying coffin.” Ageing airframes, limited safety features and pilot training issues contributed to crashes.
- The high accident rate triggered public and parliamentary scrutiny, pushing for accelerated replacement.
Retirement and future
- The final MiG‑21 squadrons—No. 3 “Cobras” and No. 4 “Oorials”—performed a farewell fly‑past during the retirement ceremony.
- They will be replaced by the indigenously developed Tejas Mk 1A and other modern fighters. The move symbolises India’s shift towards more reliable and technologically advanced aircraft.
- The retirement honours the service of the aircraft and the pilots who flew them while acknowledging the need for modernisation.
Conclusion
The MiG‑21 has been both a workhorse and a cause for concern. Its retirement marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in Indian air power.