IAF To Retire MiG-21 After 62 Years Of Service, Marking End Of Iconic Era In Indian Aviation
The Indian Air Force (IAF) will formally retire its last MiG-21 fighter jet on September 19, 2025, concluding an extraordinary six-decade legacy that shaped India’s air combat capabilities.
The ceremonial final sortie will be conducted by the famed 23 Squadron “Panthers” from the Chandigarh Air Force Station, marking the official end of the MiG-21’s operational journey.
Originally developed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the former Soviet Union, the MiG-21 first flew in 1955 and was inducted into the IAF in 1963.
It became India’s first supersonic jet fighter and went on to become the backbone of the Air Force, participating in every major military engagement — from the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars to the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Balakot air strikes.
At its peak, India operated over 800 MiG-21s, the highest number outside the Soviet Union. In total, more than 1,200 aircraft were inducted, with 600 built under license by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). As of 2024, only around 40 aircraft remained in active service.
The aircraft’s most celebrated recent combat role came during the Balakot operation when Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, flying a MiG-21 Bison, shot down a Pakistani F-16 before being captured and later released, an episode that reinvigorated public interest in the jet.
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However, the MiG-21’s illustrious combat record has long been overshadowed by its poor safety record. Since 1970, over 170 Indian pilots and more than 50 civilians have died in crashes involving the aircraft, earning it the grim nickname “Flying Coffin”. Analysts and insiders have cited ageing airframes, inadequate maintenance, and substandard spare parts as key contributing factors. Over half of the MiG-21s built between 1966 and 1984 were lost to accidents.
The aircraft underwent multiple upgrades during its lifespan, with the Bison being the final and most advanced variant. In 2023, the IAF formally announced its retirement and declared that it would be replaced by the indigenously developed Tejas fighter jet. The MiG-21 also made its final public appearance in October 2023 during the Air Force Day flypast at Prayagraj.
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The September 19 farewell will be a historic moment, marking the end of an era for the IAF. Top leadership, veterans, and former pilots who flew the MiG-21 will attend the ceremonial de-induction, paying tribute to a fighter that, despite its flaws, shaped Indian military aviation like no other.
