Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be in Chandigarh on Friday to attend the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) MiG-21 decommissioning ceremony, marking the retirement of the iconic fighter jet after nearly six decades of service.
In a post on X, Singh wrote: “Today, 26th September, I shall be in Chandigarh. Shall attend the Decommissioning ceremony of IAF’s MiG-21. Looking forward to it.”
Inducted in 1963, the MiG-21 has been a cornerstone of India’s air power. The first squadron, 28 Squadron, was raised in Chandigarh and earned the title ‘First Supersonics’ as India’s first supersonic fighter jet unit.
Over the decades, the MiG-21 played a decisive role in several operations, most notably the 1971 war with Pakistan, where it proved its combat prowess and contributed to Pakistan’s eventual surrender.
The jet later saw action during the Kargil conflict and has long been regarded as the “backbone of the IAF.” Generations of fighter pilots have trained on the aircraft, describing it as both demanding and immensely rewarding to fly.
In the run-up to Friday’s ceremony, a full-dress rehearsal was held at the Chandigarh Air Base on Wednesday.
The display featured MiG-21s in Badal and Panther formations, a midair interception of a Jaguar, aerobatic maneuvers by the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team, and a para-landing display by the Akash Ganga team. The rehearsal concluded with a ceremonial water-cannon salute to the retiring aircraft.
(With inputs from ANI)
