The Indian Air Force (IAF) will phase out its remaining 36 MiG-21 fighter jets by September 2025, marking the end of an era for the Russian-made aircraft that once formed the backbone of India’s air defense. The MiG-21s, down from a peak of nearly 900—660 built in India—will be replaced by the indigenously developed Tejas Mk1A, a modern, agile fighter jet, as part of the IAF’s modernization drive.

Introduced in 1963, the MiG-21, particularly the advanced Bison variant with upgraded electronics, served until the Sukhoi Su-30MKIs took over in the mid-2000s. The No. 4 Squadron’s MiG-21s flew their final sortie in Barmer, Rajasthan, in October 2023, symbolically handing over duties to Sukhois. The IAF’s 2022 plan also includes phasing out MiG-29s by 2027, with Tejas variants and 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) set to bolster the fleet amid delays in Tejas deliveries.

The decision follows a series of crashes, including a May 2023 incident in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, where a MiG-21 from Suratgarh Air Base killed three villagers due to a technical snag. The IAF, aiming to avoid further risks with the aging fleet, is accelerating its transition to newer platforms to maintain combat readiness against regional threats.

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