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As the Indian Air Force bids farewell to the MiG-21 on September 26, here’s a look at how the legendary jet reshaped Indian aviation and aerial warfare across six decades
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh aboard a MiG-21 aircraft lands after flying a sortie, at the Nal Air Force Station, in Bikaner district, Rajasthan, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (PTI Photo/Arun Sharma)
When India began scouting for a supersonic jet in the early 1960s, its Western options were constrained by both cost and geopolitics. The United States, closely allied with Pakistan since the 1950s through security pacts like SEATO and CENTO, had already equipped Islamabad with advanced aircraft, including the F-86 Sabre and the F-104 Starfighter. Requests by New Delhi for similar platforms were declined, partly to preserve Washington’s strategic tilt.
Britain, too, refused to allow licensed production of its Lightning jets. That opened the door for the Soviet Union, which offered not just the MiG-21, then among its most advanced fighters, but also a rare package of technology transfer and local manufacture. This proposal aligned with India’s evolving defence posture in the Nehru era, shaped in part by Defence Minister V K Krishna Menon’s emphasis on strategic autonomy and indigenous capability.
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In August 1962, India signed an agreement with the USSR. The first batch of MiG-21s arrived the following year, with No. 28 Squadron, later dubbed the “First Supersonics”, becoming operational in Chandigarh. By 1966, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) had begun licensed production, laying the foundation for one of the Indian Air Force’s most iconic aircraft programmes.
How Did MiG-21 Evolve Over Time?
Initially designed as a lightweight, high-speed interceptor, the MiG-21’s role within the IAF quickly expanded. Its earliest variant, Type-74, had limited capabilities, armed with just two K-13 heat-seeking missiles. But as operational demands grew, Indian engineers and pilots began modifying the aircraft to carry cannons, bombs, and rockets. By the time the Type-77 rolled out, it was no longer just a point-defence interceptor but a platform capable of performing air-to-ground strikes.
The next significant leap came with the Type-96, introduced in the 1970s. This variant featured improved radar, greater fuel capacity, and more versatile armaments. It was also adapted for electronic warfare duties in the late 1970s, carrying Swedish Chatterbox jamming pods. In the absence of a dedicated reconnaissance aircraft, the MiG-21 was even fitted with British Vinten cameras, serving as India’s primary tactical photo-recce platform until the induction of Jaguars.
By the 1980s, the MiG-21 Bis, equipped with a more powerful engine and radar-guided missiles, became India’s workhorse for airfield and vital area defence. In the absence of an advanced jet trainer, the IAF also converted several MiG-21 squadrons into training units under the MOFT (MiG Operational Flying Training) programme, despite the jet’s demanding flight characteristics.
The final variant, the Bison, was inducted in the early 2000s. This heavily upgraded version featured a Russian radar, Israeli electronic warfare systems, a French inertial navigation system, and an Indian radar warning receiver. Its arsenal included the R-77 and R-73 missiles, KH-31 anti-radiation weapons, and laser-guided bombs, transforming it into a capable fourth-generation fighter at a fraction of the cost.
How Did MiG-21 Shape India’s Wars?
The MiG-21 first entered combat during the 1965 India–Pakistan war, though it was limited to a single squadron. While it didn’t register any kills during the conflict, its performance offered the IAF crucial lessons on the need for enhanced firepower and multi-role capabilities.
By the time of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, the MiG-21 had matured into a formidable asset. On the Eastern front, the aircraft played a pivotal role in degrading Pakistan’s air capabilities. MiG-21s conducted steep glide bombing runs on Dhaka’s Tezgaon airfield, rendering it inoperable and giving the IAF air superiority.
The turning point came on December 14, when a flight of four MiG-21s launched a rocket strike on the Dhaka Governor’s House, where East Pakistan’s civil and military leadership was holding a closed-door meeting. The attack, delivered with surgical precision, led to the immediate resignation of Governor A M Malik and his cabinet to the United Nations, an event widely viewed as the moment the political structure of East Pakistan collapsed. Within 48 hours, the Pakistani Army surrendered.
In the Western sector of the 1971 war, the MiG-21 was primarily tasked with air defence but also participated in bold, low-level night raids. Pilots from India’s Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) flew solo missions deep into Pakistani territory, targeting airbases using 500-kg bombs.
Through the 1980s and 1990s, MiG-21s remained central to India’s quick-response strategy. In the 1999 Kargil conflict, the MiG-21 was among the first fighters deployed once the IAF joined the operation. Flying from bases like Srinagar and Avantipur, it conducted strike missions against enemy supply lines, bunkers, and logistics camps at high altitudes. In the absence of advanced navigation aids, IAF pilots relied on hand-held GPS units and stopwatches, manually aiming unguided bombs and rockets in difficult terrain. The jets also flew air defence and battle damage assessment sorties. By the end of the war, MiG-21s had completed more than 500 strike missions and 460 air patrols.
Just weeks later, on August 10, 1999, a MiG-21 again made headlines when it intercepted and shot down a Pakistani Navy Atlantique maritime patrol aircraft that had intruded into Indian airspace over the Rann of Kutch. The missile strike killed all 16 personnel onboard and was seen as a clear demonstration of India’s air dominance in the post-Kargil environment.
Two decades later, the ageing fighter would enter global headlines once again. On February 27, 2019, a day after the IAF conducted strikes on terror camps in Balakot, Pakistan launched a retaliatory air operation across the LoC. Scrambled from an operational readiness platform, two MiG-21 Bison jets intercepted the incoming aircraft. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman fired an R-73 missile and is credited with shooting down a Pakistani F-16. Although Abhinandan’s aircraft was also hit and he was captured after ejecting across the LoC, his return three days later and the MiG-21’s unexpected triumph became a defining moment in contemporary IAF history.
Why Did MiG-21 Earn The Nickname ‘Flying Coffin’?
Despite its many achievements, the MiG-21 developed a troubling safety record. The aircraft’s high landing speeds, limited cockpit visibility, and single-engine design made it unforgiving for new pilots. Its extended use in the training role, due to delays in acquiring advanced jet trainers, compounded these risks.
According to data reported by Indian Express, over 500 MiG-21s have crashed over the past 60 years, claiming the lives of more than 170 pilots. In recent years, civilian casualties have also occurred, such as the 2023 crash in Rajasthan that killed three people on the ground. While causes ranged from technical defects and bird hits to spatial disorientation, public concern reached a crescendo in the early 2000s. It was this high accident rate that led to the MiG-21 being widely dubbed the “Flying Coffin”.
One case that brought the aircraft’s safety record into national focus was the 2001 death of Flight Lieutenant Abhijeet Gadgil, who was killed when his MiG-21 crashed shortly after take-off from Suratgarh. His mother publicly challenged the IAF’s initial suggestion that pilot error was to blame, alleging technical failure instead. The controversy intensified after she received a letter from the then Inspector General of Flight Safety accusing her of demoralising the force, a letter that was later withdrawn with an apology from the Air Chief.
Her long campaign for accountability and better safety standards eventually inspired a major subplot in the 2006 Bollywood film Rang De Basanti.
Why Is MiG-21’s Retirement So Symbolic?
On September 26, 2025, the MiG-21 will formally exit Indian service after over six decades, making it the longest-serving fighter in IAF history and one of the longest-serving combat aircraft in any air force worldwide. The farewell ceremony in Chandigarh, where the first squadron was based, will feature a ceremonial flypast led by the Air Chief himself, a trained MiG-21 pilot.
Once retired, airworthy aircraft will be distributed to museums and training establishments. The indigenous LCA Tejas will take its place in frontline roles, marking a generational shift.
The MiG-21’s exit is more than a routine retirement. It signifies the closing of a pivotal chapter in India’s military history, one defined not just by combat sorties, but by industrial breakthroughs, diplomatic realignments, and the coming of age of Indian air power.
About the Author
Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar…Read More
Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar… Read More
September 24, 2025, 14:58 IST
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