Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) oldest supersonic fighter jet, the iconic MiG-21, is finally set to retire. According to official sources, the aircraft will be formally phased out on September 19, 2025, marking the end of an era in Indian military aviation.
Farewell ceremony at Chandigarh Airbase
A special de-induction ceremony will be held at the Chandigarh airbase where 23 Squadron, known as the ‘Panthers’, currently operating the MiG-21, will bid farewell to the legendary aircraft. First inducted into the IAF in 1963, the MiG-21 played a key role in India’s air defense for decades.
From glory to controversy
Originally manufactured by the Soviet Union, the MiG-21 was India’s first supersonic fighter, capable of flying faster than the speed of sound. Over the years, India inducted a total of 874 MiG-21 jets, of which around 600 were produced domestically by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Despite its stellar history and combat success, the MiG-21 also earned notoriety due to frequent crashes in recent years, prompting critics to dub it the ‘flying coffin’. Its retirement will reduce the IAF’s operational strength to 29 fighter squadrons, a number lower than even during the 1965 Indo-Pak war.
