- Final ceremonial sortie scheduled for September 19 at Chandigarh airbase
- Tejas Mk1A to replace aging fleet amid modernization push
New Delhi, India (Agencies) July 22, 2025: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will formally retire its last remaining MiG-21 fighter jets on September 19, closing a storied chapter in India’s aerial combat history. The farewell ceremony will be held at the Chandigarh Air Force Station, led by the No 23 Squadron “Panthers,” one of two units still operating the Soviet-era aircraft. The second, No 3 Squadron “Cobras,” is also stationed at Nal Air Force Base in Rajasthan and scheduled for decommissioning.
Inducted in 1963, the MiG-21 was India’s first supersonic jet fighter and has played a vital role in key regional conflicts, including the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars, the 1999 Kargil conflict, and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes. More recently, it participated in Operation Sindoor during India’s summer skirmishes with Pakistan. India operated over 850 MiG-21s, with nearly 600 built domestically by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Despite its combat legacy, the aircraft suffered from a troubling safety record—more than 400 crashes led to the loss of over 200 pilots and earned it the somber nickname “Flying Coffin.”
While India has lost over 400 MiG-21s in accidents over the decades, only a handful were lost in combat, and even fewer directly to Pakistani aircraft. The exact number remains classified or contested, especially for earlier wars like 1965 and 1971.
The final variant in service, the MiG-21 Bison, incorporated upgraded avionics and weapons systems, yet aging airframes and operational fatigue made its continued use increasingly untenable. Its most notable modern-era combat moment came in 2019, when Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s MiG-21 was shot down by a Pakistani F-16 in a high-stakes aerial engagement following the Balakot strike.
Currently, the IAF operates a diverse fleet of nine active fighter jet types, totaling approximately 542 combat aircraft. The backbone of this fleet includes 259 Su-30MKIs, 59 MiG-29UPGs, 86 Jaguar variants, 46 Mirage 2000s, 36 Rafales, and 31 indigenous Tejas Mk1 fighters. Additionally, India maintains limited numbers of Tejas Mk1 Trainers and Jaguar maritime strike platforms.
As part of its modernization strategy, the IAF has ordered 73 Tejas Mk1A multirole fighters equipped with AESA radar and advanced electronic warfare systems, as well as 12 trainer units. A significant upgrade program for 84 Su-30MKIs is also underway.
Following the MiG-21’s retirement, India’s active fighter strength will decline to 29 squadrons—far below the sanctioned 42 required to ensure strategic readiness across both western and eastern theaters. The September 19 farewell will feature flypasts, tributes from veteran pilots, and ceremonial honors, marking the end of an era for one of the most iconic aircraft in South Asian military aviation.