Solemn ceremony for the retirement of the last two squadrons of the legendary fighter, a cornerstone of Indian air defence since 1963. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh: "Not a mere aircraft, but a symbol of courage and national self-reliance"

A historic moment for Indian military aviation: after more than sixty years of distinguished service, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has formally retired from operational service its last MiG-21 Bison fighter jets. The farewell ceremony, charged with emotion and strong symbolic meaning, was held today, on September 26, 2025, at the airbase in Chandigarh in northern India, the place that marked the beginning of the Nation's supersonic journey.

The event marked the final stand-down of Squadrons No. 23 "Panthers" and No. 3 "Cobras", the last two units to operate about 36 examples of the fighter, known by the NATO nickname "Fishbed". The sky over Chandigarh was the scene of one last, majestic display: the legendary delta‑wing fighters streaked in perfect formation alongside the indigenous next‑generation fighter, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. This spectacular gesture was interpreted as a clear "passing of the baton" to the new generation of indigenously produced aircraft.

An unparalleled operational life

Designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich bureau, the MiG-21 was introduced into the IAF in 1963, marking a dual milestone: it was the country’s first supersonic fighter and the first non‑Western combat aircraft fielded by India. The choice reflected India’s strategic need during the Cold War to partner with the Soviet Union in order to secure a frontline interceptor. In total, India operated more than 850 airframes of the jet, many of them produced under license by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). This domestic production provided the Indian aerospace industry with crucial experience in manufacturing and maintaining complex combat aircraft.

The aircraft proved a mainstay of Indian defence, excelling across multiple theatres of conflict. Its role was decisive in the 1971 Indo‑Pakistani War, when it engaged in supersonic air duels against Pakistani F‑104 Starfighters and conducted strike missions, including the attack on the Governor’s House in Dhaka. Years later, the fighter took part in the Kargil conflict in 1999 and, more recently, claimed the shootdown of a more modern Pakistani F‑16 in 2019 — an event that underlined its lethality even in contemporary combat scenarios.

The "Bison" legacy and the challenges ahead

Despite a career full of successes, the MiG‑21’s time in service was extended well beyond its designers’ expectations, primarily because of delays in procuring replacements. To remain relevant, the fighter underwent numerous upgrades, culminating in the "Bison" variant, fitted with modern radars, advanced avionics and new‑generation weapon systems. Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh clarified during the ceremony that although the earliest 1960s models had been retired long ago, the aircraft being stood down today were at most 40 years old, a service life considered normal for modern jets. Singh praised HAI’s engineers for keeping the platform technologically competitive and combat‑ready for decades.

However, the cost of this extended service has been high. Since the 1960s, more than 480 MiG‑21s have been involved in accidents, causing the deaths of over 200 pilots. Despite pilots’ efforts to counter nicknames such as "Flying Coffin" or "Factory of Widows" by pointing to the sheer number of missions and flight hours, retirement had become a safety imperative.

Minister Singh described the MiG‑21 as "more than a mere machine" but as "a symbol of continuity of courage, discipline and patriotism", adding that its legacy should inspire the shift towards self‑reliance (Aatmanirbharta) in Indian defence.

The retirement of the last squadrons reduces the Indian Air Force to roughly 29 squadrons, a force level considerably below the 42 squadrons envisaged to handle potential two‑front conflicts. The IAF now pins its hopes on the accelerated induction of the Tejas Mk‑1 and Mk‑1A, with over 180 airframes ordered, along with future indigenous projects such as the Tejas Mk‑2 and the AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft). This ambitious plan, combined with the use of imported platforms like the Rafale, aims to rebuild India’s full combat capability.

The ceremony at Chandigarh, where the MiG‑21 was initially integrated into Squadron No. 28 "First Supersonics", completed the historical circle. With the handover to the Tejas, the Soviet jet takes its leave, leaving a deep imprint on the history of aviation and on Indian military culture.

Below, the farewell ceremony in the video by the Indian Air Force: