Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday lauded the legendary MiG-21’s glorious service to the Indian Armed Forces, recalling its historic and successful missions.
After 62 years on the frontline, the Indian Air Force’s iconic MiG-21, the nation’s first supersonic fighter and interceptor, retired during an event held in Chandigarh on Friday.
“The MiG-21 has long stood witness to numerous acts of bravery. Its contribution is not confined to a single event or war. From the 1971 war to the Kargil conflict, and from the Balakot airstrike to Operation Sindoor, there has not been a single moment when the MiG-21 did not provide tremendous strength to our armed forces,” Singh said.
The Defence Minister recalled that during the war with Pakistan, the MiG-21 struck the Governor’s House in Dhaka under adverse conditions, a move that decisively shaped the outcome of the conflict.
“Whenever there have been historic missions, every time the MiG-21 has enhanced the honour of the tricolour. Therefore, this farewell is also of our collective memories, of our national pride, and of that journey in which the story of courage, sacrifice, and excellence has been written,” he added.
Following the 2019 Balakot airstrike, the MiG-21 demonstrated its prowess by downing a Pakistani F-16. More recently, it played a crucial role in successful combat missions during Operation Sindoor.
During the decommissioning ceremony, MiG-21s led the Badal and Panther formations, with Air Chief Marshal AP Singh himself joining the Badal formation alongside Squadron Leader Priya Sharma.
The farewell was marked by an elaborate flypast, featuring MiG-21s, Jaguars, and the Suryakiran aerobatic team.
With the MiG-21’s retirement, the IAF’s fighter strength will drop to 29 squadrons, well short of the sanctioned 42.
This gap is expected to be filled gradually with the induction of Tejas Mk-1 and Mk-2 aircraft, as well as additional Rafale fighters in the pipeline.
