After 62 years of service, the venerable MiG-21 fighter aircraft will formally retire from the Indian Air Force (IAF) on September 19. The Chandigarh airbase will host a farewell ceremony for the aircraft.
The MiG-21 was India’s first supersonic aircraft, able to fly faster than sound, and it was first introduced into the Indian Air Force in 1963.
It now serves with the 23rd Squadron, also known as the Panthers, and for many years was a representation of India’s aerial power.
The 1965 Indo-Pak War, the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, the 1999 Kargil conflict, and the 2019 Balakot airstrike are just a few of the significant military operations in which the MiG-21 has been instrumental over the years. The Tejas Mk1A fighter aircraft, which was developed domestically, will replace the jet.
The aircraft has a contentious history despite its important contributions. Over 200 pilots have been killed in more than 400 MiG-21 aircraft crashes, according to the Ministry of Defense. Because of these instances, it was given ominous titles like “widow maker” and “flying coffin.”.
Safety concerns are raised by numerous crashes since 2021.
Once a pillar of the Indian Air Force (IAF), India’s fleet of MiG-21 fighter aircraft has shrunk to 36 operational aircraft from a total of over 850 purchased since the 1960s.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) produced about 600 of these aircraft domestically. After decades of service, the MiG-21s, which were inducted in 1963, are now nearing the end of their service life due to rising safety concerns.
Despite its impressive combat record, the MiG-21 has been frequently criticized for its high crash rate, especially in recent years. Seven crashes have occurred since January 2021, some of which have claimed pilot lives:
- A MiG-21 crashed near Suratgarh, Rajasthan, on January 5, 2021. The pilot safely ejected.
- March 17, 2021: A Group Captain was killed in a MiG-21 Bison crash close to Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
- May 20, 2021: The pilot died in another crash that happened in Moga, Punjab.
- In Barmer, Rajasthan, on August 25, 2021, a MiG-21 crashed once more. The pilot lived.
- December 25, 2021 – A MiG-21 Bison crashed in Rajasthan, killing the pilot.
- July 28, 2022: A crash in Barmer, Rajasthan, claimed the lives of two pilots.
- A MiG-21 crashed near Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, on May 8, 2023. The pilot safely ejected.
The 1965 Indo-Pak War, the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, the 1999 Kargil War, and the 2019 Balakot Air Strike are just a few of the significant wars in which the MiG-21 has been instrumental over the years. The domestically produced Tejas Mk1A aircraft will now take the place of the jet.
