Indian Air Force Retires Mig-21 Fighter Jets After Decades of Service

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has officially decided to retire the last of its MiG-21 fighter jets on September 19, marking the end of an era spanning 60 years. The MiG-21, once a mainstay of the IAF, has been involved in several key wars, but has also become notorious for its frequent crashes.
Since its induction, 490 of the 876 MiG-21 aircraft have been lost in accidents, resulting in the deaths of over 170 pilots. The decision to phase out the MiG-21s was announced through IAF advertisements in the media, with the retirement ceremony set to take place at the Chandigarh Air Base – the same location where the first MiG-21 aircraft arrived in April 1963.
The MiG-21 was first assembled in India by Soviet engineers and became part of the ‘First Supersonic Squadron.’ This marked a major milestone for the Indian Air Force at the time, as these jets were part of a new era of supersonic aviation. Despite its age, the MiG-21 continued to serve as a vital component of India’s aerial defense until recent years.
Currently, the IAF operates two MiG-21 squadrons, but once these are retired, the total number of fighter squadrons in service will drop to 29, the lowest in decades. According to the Cabinet’s security decision, the IAF needs 42 squadrons to adequately counter threats from Pakistan and China, with each squadron typically comprising 16 to 18 aircraft.
However, the replacement for the MiG-21, the Tejas Mk-1A, has been delayed. Originally scheduled to begin deliveries in March 2024, with at least 16 jets to be delivered annually, no Tejas Mk-1A aircraft have been supplied so far.
The retirement of the MiG-21 is a significant moment in the history of the Indian Air Force, which now faces challenges in maintaining its combat readiness as it transitions to new aircraft.