MiG-21 jets decommissioned | A look back at their six-decade-long controversial journey

Chandigarh: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is bidding farewell to its legendary MiG-21 fighter jets at a decommissioning ceremony underway at the Chandigarh Air Force Station on Friday. The Russian-origin aircraft, inducted in the early 1960s, had catapulted the force into the jet age.

Six decades after their induction, the last of the MiG-21s from No. 23 Squadron, nicknamed Panthers, are being retired at a mega event here. Air Chief Marshal A P Singh is flying the final sortie of the squadron with the call sign Badal 3.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, along with former IAF chiefs S P Tyagi and B S Dhanoa, attended the event. IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla was also present.

The ceremony features a skydiving display by the elite Akash Ganga team from 8,000 feet, followed by a majestic flypast of MiG-21s in three-aircraft Badal and four-aircraft Panther formations. The Surya Kiran aerobatic team is also performing breathtaking manoeuvres to mark the occasion.

In a post on X, the IAF said, “Six decades of service, countless tales of courage, a warhorse that carried pride of a nation into the skies.”

Tracing MiG-21's journey
The MiG-21 was more than just a fighter jet for India — it was the aircraft that transformed the Indian Air Force (IAF) and shaped its modern identity. Inducted in the early 1960s, these Soviet-origin jets remained in service for over six decades, becoming both a symbol of power and controversy.

Modernisation: The MiG-21 was India’s first supersonic fighter, ushering the IAF into the jet age and replacing outdated aircraft with cutting-edge technology.

Scale of use: At its peak, the IAF operated nearly 1,000 MiG-21s, making it the most widely used fighter in India’s history.

Combat record: The aircraft played decisive roles in the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan, flew missions during the 1999 Kargil conflict, and even participated in the 2019 Balakot airstrikes.

Pilot training: For decades, generations of Indian fighter pilots trained on the MiG-21, learning the discipline and skills needed to handle demanding combat aircraft.

Workhorse reputation: Known as the IAF’s backbone, the MiG-21 handled multiple roles — from interception to ground attack — and was continuously upgraded to stay relevant.

Safety concerns: Its long service life came with a cost, as hundreds of crashes over the decades raised serious questions about the safety of the ageing fleet, earning it grim nicknames like the “Flying Coffin.”

Despite its controversies, the MiG-21 remains an icon of India’s air power — a warhorse that defined an era and carried the nation’s pride into the skies.