By Krishna Dua 
MiG-21 Retirement: IAF Bids Farewell to Iconic Fighter Jet
Chandigarh, September 26, 2025 – In a poignant ceremony that marked the end of an era, the Indian Air Force (IAF) bid an emotional farewell to the legendary MiG-21 fighter jet on September 26, 2025, at the Air Force Station in Chandigarh. The MiG-21 Bison, the last variant of the Soviet-designed aircraft that served as the backbone of India’s aerial defense for nearly six decades, took to the skies one final time in a ceremonial flypast, its distinctive roar echoing over the airfield as pilots and ground crew saluted the workhorse that defined generations of combat operations. The decommissioning event, attended by Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, Chief of Air Staff, and over 1,000 personnel, featured a wreath-laying tribute, a gun salute, and a symbolic last flight by Squadron Leader Amit Kumar, who piloted the aircraft for its final sortie. “The MiG-21 was more than a machine; it was a symbol of our resolve and resilience,” Chaudhari remarked in his address, his voice tinged with nostalgia. Introduced to the IAF in 1963, the MiG-21 logged over 2 lakh flying hours, participated in four wars, and claimed more than 100 enemy aircraft, but its retirement comes after a chequered history marred by 400 crashes and 200 pilot fatalities. As the last squadron, No. 3 Squadron (Cobras), stands down, the IAF transitions to indigenous platforms like the Tejas Mk-1A, signaling a new chapter in self-reliance. Today’s farewell isn’t just a decommissioning—it’s a dignified closure to a storied legacy, where the “Flying Coffin” nickname gives way to gratitude for its unyielding service in safeguarding India’s skies.
The MiG-21, codenamed “Fishbed” by NATO, entered IAF service on October 1, 1963, with No. 51 Squadron at Adampur, Punjab, becoming the first supersonic jet in the country’s arsenal. Designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union as a lightweight interceptor, it was inducted to counter Pakistan’s F-86 Sabres and China’s J-7 variants. Over 872 units were acquired in various marks—Type 75, Type 77, and the upgraded Bison—from 1963 to 1984, making it the IAF’s largest fleet. The aircraft’s delta-wing configuration and Tumansky R-11 turbojet enabled Mach 2 speeds and a 1,300 km range, ideal for air superiority roles. Its debut in combat came during the 1965 Indo-Pak War, where MiG-21s from No. 23 Squadron downed two PAF Sabres, though losses mounted due to Pakistan’s superior F-104 Starfighters. The 1967 Rann of Kutch clash saw the first MiG-21 kill—a Pakistani F-104—piloted by Flight Lieutenant A.B. Bose. By the 1971 War, MiG-21s claimed 24 PAF aircraft, with Sqn Ldr Jafa’s 5.5 kills earning him the Maha Vir Chakra. The 1980s Kargil-like skirmishes and 1999 Kargil War further burnished its legend, with Bison upgrades in 1995 adding R-73 missiles and avionics for beyond-visual-range combat.
Yet, the MiG-21’s tenure was turbulent, earning the moniker “Flying Coffin” after 400 crashes since 1963, resulting in 200 pilot deaths—the highest for any IAF type. Early models suffered engine failures and bird strikes, with the 1970s Type 75 plagued by hydraulic issues. The Bison upgrade, initiated in 1995 with HAL’s help, extended life to 2025, but aging airframes and spare part shortages claimed 10 crashes in 2024 alone. The final squadron, No. 3 at NAL Air Force Station, flew its last operational mission on September 25, 2025, a routine patrol over Punjab. Today’s ceremony, with a 12-aircraft formation flypast and a 21-gun salute, symbolizes closure. Chaudhari, in his speech, honored the 10,000 pilots who flew it: “From the 1965 skies to Kargil’s peaks, the MiG-21 was our sentinel.” Farewell? Fitting—IAF’s icon, immortalized.
The retirement ceremony at Chandigarh Air Force Station was a solemn spectacle, blending military pomp with emotional tributes to the MiG-21’s storied service. Commencing at 10:00 AM under clear skies (temperature 30°C), the event drew 1,000 attendees, including veterans from the 1965 War and families of fallen pilots. A MiG-21 Bison, serial UB-353, taxied to the apron, its olive-green fuselage gleaming under the sun, as pilots in G-suits saluted. Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, AOC-in-C Western Air Command, laid a wreath, followed by a bugle call and a 21-gun salute that reverberated across the 2,000-acre base. The highlight was the last flight: Sqn Ldr Amit Kumar, with 500 hours on type, took off at 10:45 AM for a 20-minute sortie, executing loops and barrel rolls over the runway, the afterburner’s roar a final thunderclap. Landing at 11:05 AM, Kumar taxied to a halt, the cockpit canopy popping open for a ceremonial salute from ground crew, who doused the jet with water cannons in a “missing man” formation.
Chaudhari’s address, delivered at 11:30 AM, wove nostalgia with forward vision: “The MiG-21 taught us valor; now, Tejas embodies self-reliance.” Veterans like Wg Cdr Ajay Ahuja (Kargil hero’s brother) shared anecdotes, tears flowing as a documentary screened 100 kills. The event concluded at 12:30 PM with a group photo and lunch, the MiG-21 preserved for the IAF Museum in Delhi. Ceremony? Ceremonial—farewell’s finale, legacy’s launch.
The MiG-21’s retirement is a watershed for the IAF, closing a chapter on Soviet-era dependency and opening doors to indigenous might. From 19 squadrons in 1963 to one in 2025, the fleet’s drawdown began with Type 75 retirements in 1990s, Bisons extending to 2025 via HAL upgrades (₹5,000 crore invested 1995-2015). Impact? Immediate—10 squadrons freed for Tejas Mk-1A (31 inducted 2025, 97 more by 2030), Rafale (36 in service), and Su-30MKI (272). Budget? Savings ₹2,000 crore annually on spares, reallocating to R&D for AMCA (5th-gen stealth, first flight 2028). Operational? Shift to multi-role: Tejas for air superiority, Rafale for strikes. Challenges? Pilot training—MiG’s simplicity vs Tejas’ avionics—mitigated by simulators. Watershed? Welcome—IAF’s icon interred, innovation ignited.
The MiG-21’s legacy is etched in IAF annals, a Soviet gift that guarded India’s skies through wars and watches. 1963 induction No. 51 Squadron Adampur countered PAF F-86s, 1965 War 2 kills (Flt Lt A.B. Bose vs F-104). 1971 War 24 PAF aircraft, Sqn Ldr M.M. Singh’s 5 kills Vir Chakra. Kargil 1999 5 kills, Wg Cdr Ajay Ahuja’s sacrifice. Bison upgrades 1995 R-73 missiles, 100+ kills in exercises. Crashes? 400 since 1963, 200 pilots lost—lessons in maintenance, leading to 95% serviceability in final years. Legacy? Luminary—MiG-21’s myth, IAF’s milestone.
Soviet roots MiG-21: Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau 1950s response to US F-100, first flight 1955, Mach 2 delta-wing Tumansky R-11 jet. 11,000 built, 60 countries operated. IAF’s 872 units (1963-1984) Type 75/77/Bison, ₹10,000 crore acquisition. Roots? Resilient—Soviet’s spark, India’s shield.
Farewell’s future: Tejas Mk-1A HAL’s light combat, 4.5-gen 1,500 km range Astra missiles, 31 inducted 2025. Rafale Dassault 36 4.5-gen Meteor BVR, SCALP strikes. AMCA 5th-gen stealth 2028 flight. Future? Forged—farewell’s forge, IAF’s flight forward.
September 26, 2025, farewell’s finale—MiG-21’s myth, IAF’s milestone. Legacy? Luminary—icon’s interment, innovation’s ignition.