New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has bid an emotional farewell to its longest-serving fighter aircraft, the MiG-21, with Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh himself piloting the final sorties of the iconic jet. The ceremonial flights were conducted at Nal Air Force Station in Bikaner on August 18 and 19, marking the end of more than six decades of operational service.

The MiG-21, inducted into the IAF in 1963, was the country’s first supersonic fighter and went on to form the backbone of India’s air defence for decades. Known for its agility and speed, the aircraft played crucial roles in the 1965 and 1971 wars against Pakistan, the Kargil conflict in 1999, and most recently in the 2019 aerial engagement where Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman shot down a Pakistani F-16 before being captured. Over the years, the MiG-21 earned a reputation as a battle-hardened jet, credited with downing aircraft across multiple generations.

During the ceremonial flights, Air Chief Marshal Singh, who had first flown the MiG-21 in 1985, described the aircraft as simple yet formidable, demanding high levels of skill and discipline from its pilots. The last operational squadron of MiG-21s, No. 23 Squadron “Panthers,” based at Nal, took part in formation sorties led by Squadron Leader Priya. The aircraft will be formally retired at a grand ceremony on September 26 at Chandigarh Air Force Station, where the MiG-21 was first inducted more than sixty years ago.

While celebrated for its combat record, the MiG-21 was also criticized for its high accident rate, earning the grim nickname “Flying Coffin.” Originally scheduled for retirement nearly two decades ago, the aircraft’s service life was repeatedly extended due to delays in inducting modern replacements such as the indigenous Tejas fighter.

With the MiG-21’s phase-out, the IAF’s active squadron strength has dropped to 29, well below the sanctioned 42 required for full preparedness in the event of a two-front conflict. The IAF is now accelerating the induction of Tejas Mk-1A and Mk-2 jets, along with Rafales and Su-30s, while also pushing forward with the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project.

The MiG-21’s retirement closes a defining chapter in Indian air power, marking the end of a fighter that symbolized both valor and sacrifice for generations of IAF pilots. The September ceremony will be both a farewell and a tribute to an aircraft that shaped the history of the nation’s skies.