India retires MiG-21 fighters after six decades as air force stretches to improve fleet

Long Goodbye - The Statesman

The retirement of India’s MiG-21 fighter marks the end of an era that shaped the country’s military identity as much as its strategic choices.

MiG-21 retires: A look at the women who tamed the Bison

For decades, women were barred from becoming fighter pilots in the IAF, but when the opportunity came, they took the reins and tamed the MiG-21 Bison. These pilots began their careers on the legendary jet and have now moved on to modern aircraft. Like generations of their male counterparts, India's women fighter pilots also cut their teeth on the MiG-21s.

MiG-21 farewell: What is Form 700 and why it is important for an aircraft

The iconic Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, the fighter aircraft that served the Indian Air Force (IAF) for more than 60 years, was decommissioned on Friday. The Russian-origin warhorse. which was inducted in the 1960s, was decommissioned at a mega farewell at the Air Force Station in Chandigarh in presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh.  Rajnath termed the MiG-21 a 'national pride', saying the aircra…

Explained: What's 'Form 700', Seen At MiG-21 Farewell Event

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh led the last sortie of the MiG-21 today as the legendary aircraft fleet was decommissioned at a mega farewell in Chandigarh Air Force Base.

India retires ‘flying coffin’ Soviet fighter jet after six decades

CHANDIGARH (India), Sept 26 — Russian-built MiG-21s flew for the final time today, marking the end of an era for the country’s first supersonic fighter jet — lauded for its valour but tarnished by a legacy of some 400 crashes.Crowds cheered as officials staged a grand farewell for the final two MiG-21 squadrons, totalling around 36 aircraft, at an air force base in the northern city of Chandigarh.The send-off came a day after New Delhi signed a …

“Flying Coffin” Retired: India Phases Out Last Soviet-Era MiG-21s After Decades of Fatal Crashes

India has officially withdrawn the last of its MiG-21 fighter jets from service, ending more than sixty years of operational use of the Soviet-designed aircraft. The final squadron, known as the “Sword Arms,” based in Suratgarh, Rajasthan, was decommissioned this week, according to a statement from the Indian Air Force (IAF). The MiG-21, often referred to in Indian media as the “flying coffin” due to its safety record, first entered IAF service …