Wings of History: MiG-21 Jets to Bid Final Farewell After 62 Years

India's iconic MiG-21 fighter jets, the pillars of the Indian Air Force once, are retiring in September, marking the end of a legendary era of Indian military aviation. Inducted back in 1963, the Russian-made aircraft flew for six decades, participated in defining battles, and impacted the careers of generations of pilots.

Key milestones and legacy

MiG-21s were employed extensively during the 1965 and 1971 wars, the 1999 Kargil war, and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes

Over 870 units were ordered, and nearly 600 were locally produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

Despite their combat capability, the jets were referred to as flying coffin due to over 400 accidents as well as pilot fatalities

The final squadron, No. 23 Panthers, will be officially disbanded at Chandigarh airbase on Sept 19

Transition and future plans

Indian Air Force will replace MiG-21s with the indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mark 1A.

HAL has committed to deliver 12 Tejas aircraft in March 2025 under which 83 are ordered and 97 are being manufactured.

The retirement will reduce IAF's flying operational fighter squadrons to 29, short of the approved strength of 42

MiG-21's phasing out over time isn't a logistics shift in itself—this is an emotional turning point in Indian defense history. As the IAF closes the chapter, the Tejas aircraft stand ready to carry the legacy forward with new capabilities and made-in-India pride.

Sources: Indian Express, Times of India, India Today, Hindustan Times, PTI, LiveMint, Rediff, ThePrint, Statetimes, MSN India