MiG-21: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is preparing to retire the last of its MiG-21 fighter jets by September 2025, marking the end of an era for the force’s longest-serving combat aircraft. These aging jets, once the pride of the IAF, will be replaced by the more advanced and indigenous Tejas Mk1A fighters.
From nearly 900 MiG-21s including 660 built in India only 36 aircraft remain in active service. First inducted on a trial basis in 1963, the MiG-21 became the backbone of the IAF, playing key roles in major military operations until the mid-2000s, when more modern aircraft like the Sukhoi Su-30MKI were introduced.
Tejas Mk1A to Replace MiG-21 as IAF’s New Workhorse
The final variant of the MiG-21, known as the Bison, came equipped with upgraded avionics, navigation, and communication systems. Its formal farewell began in October 2023, when jets from the No 4 Squadron flew a last sortie over Barmer, Rajasthan, symbolically handing over duties to the Sukhoi fleet along the sensitive Pakistan border.
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“We will stop flying the MiG-21 fighter aircraft by 2025 and will replace them with the LCA Mark-1A,” former Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari confirmed earlier.
The IAF had committed to a three-year phase-out plan in July 2022 for the remaining four MiG-21 squadrons. The force also plans to retire the MiG-29 fleet by 2027.
A Legacy Marked by Glory and Tragedy
While the MiG-21 has a decorated service history, recent years have seen multiple crashes, raising safety concerns. In May 2023, a jet crashed near Hanumangarh in Rajasthan, killing three civilians. The aircraft, on a routine mission from Suratgarh Air Force base, went down due to a “technical snag,” prompting the IAF to ground the entire MiG-21 fleet for checks.
One of the most notable squadrons to be phased out was No 51 Squadron from Srinagar, famed for its role in Operation Safed Sagar during the Kargil War and its defence during Pakistan’s retaliatory strike post the Balakot airstrikes in 2019. This squadron also included Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who became a national icon after shooting down a Pakistani jet and being captured across the border.
India Looks Ahead to Fifth-Generation Fighter Era
With the MiG-21s making their exit, India is shifting its focus to the future of aerial combat. The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a fifth-generation stealth fighter, is currently under development. This twin-engine, single-seat multirole jet will feature advanced stealth coatings, internal weapons bays, and is projected to cost over ₹15,000 crore. Most of its components will be produced domestically by Bengaluru’s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).
