After six decades of soaring through the skies and etching its name in the annals of Indian military history, the iconic MiG-21 fighter jets are set to take their final bow from the Indian Air Force (IAF) in a grand decommissioning ceremony at the Chandigarh Air Force Station on Friday. This emotional farewell marks the end of an era for the supersonic workhorse that has been the backbone of India's aerial combat capabilities since the 1960s, symbolizing both triumph and tragedy in equal measure.
The ceremony, steeped in nostalgia and reverence, will see Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as the chief guest, joined by top military brass including Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi. Adding to the star-studded lineup, six former IAF chiefs—A Y Tipnis, S Krishnaswamy, S P Tyagi, P V Naik, B S Dhanoa, and R K S Bhadauria—will also grace the event. Officials from the Defence Ministry, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) are expected to attend, underscoring the significance of this milestone in India's defense evolution.
The day's highlights promise a spectacle of precision and pride. Air Chief Marshal A P Singh will lead the last operational sortie of the MiG-21 Bison variant, a poignant moment echoing the aircraft's first induction in Chandigarh back in 1963 under the command of then-Squadron Leader Dilbagh Singh, who later rose to become IAF Chief in 1981. The Number 23 Squadron, affectionately nicknamed the "Panthers," will contribute six MiG-21s for a ceremonial flypast, receiving a traditional water cannon salute upon landing. Among the pilots making history is Squadron Leader Priya Sharma, who will etch her name in aviation lore as the last woman fighter pilot to fly the MiG-21 during its final flight—having already aced a full-dress rehearsal on Wednesday.
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The MiG-21's journey with the IAF has been nothing short of legendary. First inducted over 60 years ago, the IAF acquired more than 870 of these Russian-origin jets, making them the fleet's mainstay for decades. They roared into action during the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars, delivering decisive blows in aerial dogfights that turned the tide of battles. In the high-altitude drama of the 1999 Kargil conflict, MiG-21s provided crucial close air support, while their role in the 2019 Balakot airstrikes highlighted their enduring relevance in precision strikes against terrorist threats. As the IAF reflected in a recent X post, "Six decades of service, countless tales of courage, a warhorse that carried the pride of a nation into the skies."
Yet, the MiG-21's storied service has not been without shadows. Dubbed the "flying coffin" by critics due to over 400 crashes since induction—resulting in the loss of nearly 200 pilots—the ageing fleet's safety record has been a persistent concern. These incidents, often attributed to the aircraft's outdated avionics and structural fatigue, prompted accelerated modernization efforts and the eventual phasing out. The last operational flights occurred at Nal Air Force Station in Rajasthan's Bikaner about a month ago, where Air Chief Marshal Singh flew solo sorties on August 18-19, evoking a wave of sentiment among veterans and current personnel alike.
As the MiG-21 fades into retirement, the IAF looks to the future with renewed vigor. The ceremony will feature flypasts by the Jaguar and the indigenous Tejas, the latter a shining emblem of India's self-reliance in defense manufacturing. The Tejas, a single-engine multi-role fighter, is engineered for high-threat environments and excels in air defense, maritime reconnaissance, and strike missions—poised to fill the void left by its predecessor. This transition not only honors the past but also heralds a new chapter powered by homegrown innovation, with HAL ramping up Tejas production to bolster squadron strengths.
The decommissioning event, preceded by a full-dress rehearsal on Wednesday, will blend military pomp with heartfelt tributes. Veterans recounting MiG-21 escapades, interactive displays of the aircraft's upgrades like the Bison variant, and perhaps even a documentary screening could enrich the proceedings. For the IAF, retiring the MiG-21 is more than scrapping old jets—it's a rite of passage, closing a chapter of raw grit and global skirmishes while opening doors to a tech-savvy, indigenous air force ready for tomorrow's challenges.
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