After nearly six decades of service, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday retired its legendary MiG-21 fighter jet, taking its final sortie in a decommissioning ceremony at Chandigarh Air Force Station in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Inducted in 1963, the MiG-21 became the backbone of India’s air power, training generations of pilots and proving its mettle in multiple conflicts, including the 1965 and 1971 wars, the 1999 Kargil War. The aircraft played a pivotal role in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, striking the Governor’s residence in Dhaka, contributing significantly to Pakistan’s surrender and the liberation of Bangladesh.
Speaking to ANI, Squadron Leader SS Tyagi (Retd.), who holds the highest flying hours on the MiG-21, recalled, “We passed on our learnings to our juniors. The MiG-21 participated in the 1971 war, performing rocketry, gunnery, and bombing, and I would give 80 per cent of the credit for our victory to this aircraft.” Group Captain Malik (Retd.) described the aircraft as “my life” and said bidding farewell was an emotional moment for all pilots.
Wing Commander Jaideep Singh added, “Flying a MiG-21 demanded precision and courage. Its speed, agility, and responsiveness taught you everything about fighter flying. Almost every IAF pilot has flown it before moving on to other aircraft. We are going to miss it.”
The aircraft underwent multiple upgrades over the years, with the final variant, MiG-21-93 (Bison), equipped with advanced radar, avionics, and high-off-boresight Vympel R-73 missiles, maintaining its relevance in close-combat scenarios.
The ceremony in Chandigarh also celebrated the first squadron, 28 Squadron, nicknamed ‘First Supersonics,’ which was raised at Chandigarh in 1963. Its motto, “Sanharancha Karothi Ya” (“Determined to Destroy”), reflected the ethos of generations of MiG-21 pilots. The farewell included a series of aerobatic displays, demonstrating the aircraft’s agility, and marked the transition to modern fighters, with the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark 1A expected to succeed the MiG-21.
–ANI
