On September 26, 2025, the Indian Air Force (IAF) bid a poignant farewell to a legend of the skies. With a final, thunderous flypast above Chandigarh Air Force Station, India officially retired its last MiG-21 squadrons, bringing to a close the remarkable 62-year service of the country’s first supersonic jet fighter. This moment, marked by ceremony and nostalgia, signaled not just the end of an aircraft’s operational life, but the close of a defining chapter in India’s military and technological history.
The MiG-21’s silhouette—slender, needle-nosed, and unmistakably Soviet—has been synonymous with Indian air power for generations. Inducted in 1963, just eight years after its maiden flight in the Soviet Union, the MiG-21 was more than a machine; it was a symbol of India’s strategic pivot during the Cold War and its growing ambitions as a regional power. According to Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, the MiG-21 became the backbone of the IAF, serving longer than any other combat aircraft in the force’s history.
The final act of the MiG-21’s service unfolded in Chandigarh, where the No. 23 Panthers and No. 3 Cobras squadrons—together fielding around 36 of the iconic jets—were formally decommissioned. The ceremony was rich with symbolism. The MiG-21s soared in tight formation alongside the indigenous Tejas fighters, their delta wings glinting in the afternoon sun. As they traced arcs across the sky, it felt as if the entire nation paused, paying silent tribute to a warhorse that had defended its borders for more than six decades.
For the IAF, the MiG-21 was more than just hardware. Over 872 aircraft were inducted between 1966 and 1980, with around 600 of those produced domestically by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). As noted by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, this massive fleet made India the largest MiG-21 operator outside the former Soviet Union. The aircraft’s presence was so pervasive that many pilots viewed strapping into a MiG-21 cockpit as a rite of passage—a place where they learned the unforgiving art of supersonic flight.
The MiG-21’s combat record reads like a chronicle of Indian military history. It first saw action in the 1965 India-Pakistan war, and by 1971, it had become a decisive factor. MiG-21s engaged Pakistan’s F-104 Starfighters in dogfights and carried out bold strikes, including the attack on the Governor’s House in Dhaka that hastened the war’s end. During the 1999 Kargil conflict, the jet flew punishing sorties in the treacherous Himalayan theater. In one of the most high-profile incidents of recent years, a MiG-21 Bison shot down a Pakistani F-16 in 2019—a feat that, while disputed by Pakistan and the United States, was celebrated in India as proof of the old fighter’s enduring potency.
Yet, the MiG-21’s legacy is not without controversy. Over 400 of the 872 airframes inducted since 1963 were lost to accidents, resulting in the deaths of more than 200 pilots and at least 50 civilians. The jet earned grim nicknames—"Flying Coffin" and "Widow Maker"—fueling public criticism over the IAF’s continued reliance on such an ageing platform. The last MiG-21 crash occurred as recently as May 8, 2023, killing three civilians in Rajasthan. According to the Indian Air Force, the main culprit was not the jet’s design, but the immense strain placed on it by decades of service, bureaucratic delays in procurement, and the lack of timely replacements.
IAF officers have long defended the MiG-21’s extended tenure. They point out that India’s notoriously slow defense acquisition process made it impossible to divest the jets without risking a dangerous drop in squadron strength. As new fighters like the HAL Tejas and imported Rafale jets faced production and delivery delays, the MiG-21 was repeatedly upgraded and overhauled. The Bison variant, equipped with modern radar and missiles, allowed the jet to remain operationally relevant well into the 21st century. "In certain ideal tactical, teaming, and terrain situations, and if handled by a seasoned pilot, the MiG-21bis can even best a Gen. 4 and Gen. 4.5 fighter," said an unnamed retired Air Vice Marshal, according to Aerospace Global News.
The ceremony in Chandigarh was steeped in history. It was at this very base that the first six MiG-21s arrived in 1963, joining No. 28 Squadron—the "First Supersonics." Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh led a commemorative flypast, joined by Squadron Leader Priya Sharma, the seventh woman to fly in the IAF and the last woman to pilot the MiG-21. The formation was greeted on landing with a water cannon salute, while the IAF’s Surya Kiran display team performed aerobatics overhead. The message was clear: the MiG-21’s era had ended, but its spirit would endure.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, speaking at the event, called the MiG-21 a "symbol of India-Russia defense cooperation" and praised its role in historic missions. "Whenever there have been historic missions, every time the MiG-21 has enhanced the honour of the tricolour," he said, recalling its decisive role in the 1971 war. The jet’s legacy also extends to India’s aerospace industry. HAL’s experience in license-producing the MiG-21 laid the groundwork for later indigenous projects, including the Tejas.
The IAF’s future now rests on a new generation of fighters. With the MiG-21’s retirement, squadron strength has dipped to 29—well below the sanctioned 42 needed to counter the air forces of Pakistan and China. To address this gap, India has ordered 180 Tejas Mk1 and Mk1A jets, including a fresh order for 97 aircraft worth $6.7 billion signed on September 25, 2025. The Tejas Mk2 and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) are also in development, while imported Rafale jets are gradually entering service. According to Aerospace Global News, each IAF squadron is meant to operate 18 aircraft, making the rapid induction of new fighters a strategic imperative.
The MiG-21’s flight characteristics—its nose intake, delta wing, and high landing speed—were unforgiving, demanding "unforgiving respect and impeccable skill," as one retired officer put it. Early pilots, many transitioning from subsonic jets, faced a steep learning curve, and the lack of advanced trainers compounded the risks. Over time, foreign object damage, bird strikes, and unpredictable material failures contributed to the aircraft’s high accident rate.
Despite these challenges, the affection and respect for the MiG-21 among India’s aviators remain undiminished. For many, it was a machine that rewarded skill and punished carelessness, a jet that could still surprise adversaries if flown well. Its final formation flight, hand-in-hand with the Tejas, was more than a gesture—it was a passing of the torch to a new era of Indian aviation.
The MiG-21’s story will live on in museums, archives, and the memories of those who flew and maintained it. As India looks to the future, the lessons—and the legends—of its most storied fighter jet will not be forgotten.