IAF to Retire Legendary MiG-21 on September 26

Quick Summary

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) will officially retire its MiG-21 fighter jets on September 26, 2025, after nearly six decades of service.
• A ceremonial flypast and decommissioning event will take place at the IAF base in Chandigarh. Senior military leaders and veteran pilots will attend.
• Inducted in 1963, the MiG-21 was India’s first supersonic fighter jet, once called “First Supersonics” by its maiden squadron (28 Squadron).
• Over 700 MiG-21s of various variants were inducted into the IAF during its operational lifetime; many were domestically built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• It played pivotal roles in key conflicts:

– The wars of 1965 and 1971.
– The Kargil conflict of 1999.
– The Balakot air strikes in 2019, including Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman’s interception of a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet.
– It also contributed substantially to boosting India’s indigenous aerospace industry.
– As MiG-21 squadrons are phased out, IAF’s combat strength is expected to drop to 29 squadrons temporarily before indigenously made Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk1A fills its role.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The retirement of the mig-21 marks not only a generational transition for the Indian Air Force but also underscores evolving priorities within India’s defense strategy. While honoring an aircraft that shaped India’s aerial supremacy over decades-especially through its engagements from wartime victories to contemporary strategic successes-it is evident that phasing out these legendary fighters signals a shift toward modernity with homegrown solutions like Tejas.

The immediate challenge for the IAF lies in bridging the gap caused by a temporary reduction in squadron strength until newer jets are fully integrated into service. This necessitates both expediting domestic production timelines for replacements such as Tejas Mk1A and potentially seeking interim solutions if delays occur.This decision also highlights India’s broader endeavor to modernize defense assets while fostering self-reliance through “Make-in-India” initiatives spearheaded via HAL-a continuation of legacy contributions fostered since it began manufacturing several versions of this iconic jet locally decades ago.

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