Archive · 21 Sep 2025
Analyzing the Safety Record of the Indian Air Force's MiG-21
The article looks at how safe the MiG-21 fighter jet was in the Indian Air Force.
It explains that the jet had a certain number of accidents per hours flown.
When compared to other jets from the same time period, the MiG-21's safety record was similar.
The study uses data and calculations to show how the jet's safety should be looked at in the context of its age and use.
It explains how the plane was used in low-level missions and long periods of use.
The rate of accidents is determined from approximately 1.5 million flight hours and about 390 losses.
The analysis examines the MiG-21's safety record in the Indian Air Force.
The accident rate was approximately 26.3 per 100,000 flight hours.
The fleet had approximately 1.5 million flight hours.
Roughly 390 accidents are estimated to have occurred.
The accident rate is in line with other single-engine fighters from the 1960s.
- Who
- Indian Air Force (IAF)
- What
- Safety record of the MiG-21
- When
- Over six decades of service
- Where
- India
- Why
- To assess the accident rate relative to similar aircraft
- Aircraft
- MiG-21
- Accident Rate (approx.)
- 26.3 per 100,000 flight hours
- Total Flight Hours (approx.)
- 1.5 million
- Estimated Number of Accidents
- ~390
- Comparison
- Similar to other 1960s single-engine fighters
