Archive · 26 Sep 2025
India Bids Farewell to MiG-21 After Six Decades
Imagine a super-fast jet plane called the MiG-21 that helped protect India for over 60 years.
It was a very important plane, used in many wars.
Now, after a long time, the Indian Air Force is saying goodbye to this special plane.
At a farewell party, they will do a special fly-by and remember all the good things the plane did.
One of the last pilots to fly it is a woman named Priya Sharma.
People who flew the plane before are sad to see it go, but happy for the future.
The MiG-21, India's first supersonic fighter, retires after 62 years of service.
A decommissioning ceremony with a water salute and flypast marks the event in Chandigarh.
The jet served in the 1965, 1971, and 1999 conflicts, among other missions.
Squadron Leader Priya Sharma, one of the IAF’s few woman fighter pilots, flew the aircraft.
The MiG-21 was a vital part of the IAF's capabilities for reconnaissance and air defense.
- Who
- Indian Air Force, including Squadron Leader Priya Sharma and veterans like Group Captain Anupam Banerjee
- What
- Retirement of the MiG-21 fighter jet.
- When
- September 26, marking the end of its service.
- Where
- Chandigarh, with operations across India and in conflicts.
- Why
- To mark the end of the aircraft's service after 62 years and modernization of IAF.
Potential safety concerns
Legacy of the aircraft
Aircraft's safety record
Potential safety concerns
Some refer to the MiG-21 as a 'flying coffin'
Legacy of the aircraft
Aircraft represents IAF's power and capability. A trusted friend and a ‘warhorse’.
- Aircraft
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
- First Introduced to IAF
- Early 1960s
- Decommissioning Ceremony
- Chandigarh
- Key Roles
- Combat, reconnaissance, air defence patrols
- Key Conflicts
- 1965, 1971, and 1999 Wars
- First Squadron Commander
- Air Chief Marshal Dilbagh Singh
Sources
MiG-21 retirement: Remembering Air Chief Marshal Dilbagh Singh, first CO of the first MiG-21 Squadron in Chandigarh
The man, his machine and the open skies: IAF veteran recalls his romance with MiG-21
IAF veteran recalls his romance with MiG-2: The man, his machine and the open skies