Indian Air Force Retiring MIG-21 After 62 Years In Service
Indian Air Force Retiring MIG-21 After 62 Years In Service
A decorated veteran of the skies, the MiG-21 fighter jet, will formally retire from the Indian Air Force (IAF) this September after 62 years of distinguished service. The final MiG-21 will receive a ceremonial send-off on September 19 at the Chandigarh airbase, hosted by the 23 Squadron (Panthers).
Since its induction in 1963, the MiG-21 has been a cornerstone of India's air defense. It played a crucial role in pivotal conflicts, including the 1965 and 1971 wars, the Kargil War, and even the 2019 Balakot strikes, along with Operation Sindoor. Once a symbol of aerial dominance in the 1960s and 70s, the Soviet-designed Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, flown by nearly 60 nations, later faced criticism due to a high rate of crashes, earning it the unfortunate moniker 'flying coffin'.
The retirement of the MiG-21 fleet was postponed multiple times, largely due to delays in the production and delivery of its intended successor, the indigenous LCA Tejas Mk1A. With the MiG-21's departure, the IAF's combat squadron strength will decline to 29, marking its lowest point since the 1960s and falling below the numbers active during the 1965 war.
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