Watch: IAF chief flies Mig-21 in final farewell to old workhorse

The Indian Air Force’s iconic MiG-21 fighter jets, which formed the backbone of its combat fleet for more than six decades, made their last operational flights at Nal Air Force Station in Bikaner. The milestone came a month ahead of the formal retirement ceremony scheduled in Chandigarh on September 26, bringing the curtains down on a remarkable chapter in Indian military aviation.

VIDEO | Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh takes a sortie in MiG-21 aircraft in Bikaner. The IAF is all set to bid adieu MiG-21 aircraft from operation roles on September 26.#IndianAirForce #mig21 pic.twitter.com/7t9NqCszk7

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 25, 2025

Air chief leads the farewell

In a symbolic gesture, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh flew solo sorties on August 18 and 19, marking his personal farewell to the Russian-origin aircraft that trained and tested generations of Indian pilots.

For the IAF chief, the flight was not merely ceremonial but also a return to his early days as a fighter pilot, when he first flew the MiG-21 in the mid-1980s.

Workhorse of the skies

Introduced in the 1960s, the MiG-21 quickly became the most recognisable face of the IAF. Agile, highly manoeuvrable and deceptively simple in design, the jet demanded skill but rewarded pilots with unmatched speed and performance.

Capable of climbing at more than 250 metres per second, it was designed as a supersonic interceptor and proved its worth repeatedly in combat.

At a global level, the aircraft remains one of the most mass-produced supersonic fighters in history, with over 11,000 units serving in more than 60 air forces.

Combat legacy across decades

The MiG-21’s combat record with India is etched in military history. It first entered battle during the 1965 war and rose to prominence in the 1971 conflict, when it played a decisive role in the bombing of Dhaka that precipitated Pakistan’s surrender.

It continued to make its presence felt in later operations, including the Kargil conflict of 1999, when a MiG-21 downed a Pakistani Atlantic aircraft, and in 2019, when it scored a rare kill by shooting down an F-16 during an aerial skirmish.

Evolution and modernisation

Across its 62 years of service, the MiG-21 underwent several upgrades, the latest being the Bison variant fitted with modern avionics, radar and beyond-visual-range missiles.

Despite these enhancements, the aircraft has gradually become harder to maintain, with its ageing design unable to keep pace with modern demands. Currently, two squadrons remain in operation, both set to retire next month.

Passing the baton

The IAF is now looking ahead to newer platforms such as the Tejas, Rafale and Su-30 to take on the roles once dominated by the MiG-21. The Tejas, designed as its successor, reflects continuity in design philosophy while promising to evolve with future technology and weaponry.

With 83 units already contracted, the indigenous fighter is poised to step into the shoes of its legendary predecessor.

Closing a chapter

The final farewell ceremony in Chandigarh, where the MiG-21 was first inducted in 1963, will formally close the service record of India’s most enduring jet. For the Air Force, it is not just the retirement of an aircraft but the departure of a trusted workhorse that defined India’s aerial strength for more than half a century.