MiG-21 to retire: India bids farewell to its first supersonic fighter | Fusion - WeRIndia

After over six decades of service, the MiG-21 fighter jets, India’s first supersonic combat aircraft, are set to retire this September 2025.

A grand farewell ceremony will be held on September 19 at the Chandigarh airbase, marking the end of a historic chapter in Indian military aviation.

The last operational MiG-21s, flown by the 23 Squadron, known as the Panthers, will take to the skies for one final flypast.

The event will include aerial displays, static exhibitions, and tributes from senior Indian Air Force (IAF) officers and veterans, honouring the legacy of this legendary aircraft.

Inducted into the IAF in 1963, the MiG-21s transformed India’s aerial capabilities.

As the first supersonic jets in the IAF, they played a pivotal role in major conflicts, including the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan, the Kargil War in 1999, and the Balakot air strikes in 2019.

Their unmatched speed and agility made them a backbone of India’s air defence for decades.

India operated over 850 MiG-21s, the largest fleet of its kind globally, with nearly 600 built under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Despite their outstanding service record, the aircraft came with challenges.

A high number of accidents earned them the nickname “Flying Coffins”, raising concerns about safety and modernisation.

Still, the aircraft remained in service due to delays in inducting modern fighters like the indigenous LCA Tejas Mk1A.

The MiG-21s, while outdated by global standards, continued to train generations of pilots and guard Indian airspace.

The upcoming retirement ceremony will not just be a military event but a moment of national reflection. It celebrates the enduring contribution of the MiG-21 to India’s defence while underscoring the need for timely technological upgrades.

With their final flight, the MiG-21s will soar into history as symbols of strength, resilience, and legacy.

Their exit marks both the close of a storied era and the dawn of a modern, self-reliant Indian Air Force, ready for the challenges ahead.

Image Credit: Ank Kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Indian_Air_Force_MiG_21_at_HAL_museum,_Bengaluru_(Ank_Kumar)_03.jpg