The Indian Air Force concludes a defining chapter in aviation history as the legendary MiG 21 retirement officially takes place on September 26, 2025, after 62 years of distinguished service. The ceremonial farewell at Chandigarh Air Force Station marks the end of one of the world’s most extensively operated supersonic fighter aircraft programs, leaving the IAF with its lowest squadron strength in decades.
Key Highlights
- MiG 21 retirement reduces IAF squadron strength from 31 to 29, the lowest in five decades
- Over 874 MiG-21 variants served the IAF since 1963, with production exceeding 870 aircraft under license
- Government signs ₹62,370 crore contract for 97 Tejas Mark-1A jets as modernization accelerates
Opening Overview: The Final Flight of India’s Supersonic Workhorse
The MiG 21 retirement ceremony represents more than just the decommissioning of aging aircraft—it symbolizes India’s transition from Soviet-era dependence to indigenous defense manufacturing. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, and all service chiefs will attend the ceremony where the last MiG-21 jets of No. 23 Squadron “Panthers” take their final flight. Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh will personally fly the last sortie, connecting the present leadership with the aircraft’s storied past when Air Marshal Dilbagh Singh led the first MiG-21 squadron at the same Chandigarh station in 1963.
The timing of this MiG 21 retirement creates immediate operational challenges, as the IAF’s squadron strength drops to 29—significantly below the government-sanctioned requirement of 42 squadrons needed for effective defense against potential two-front war scenarios. This reduction comes at a critical juncture when India faces heightened geopolitical tensions, making the MiG 21 retirement both a historic milestone and a strategic inflection point for national defense planning.
Squadron Leader Priya Sharma will etch her name in aviation history as the last woman fighter pilot to fly the MiG-21, participating in both the dress rehearsal and final ceremony. The ceremonial water cannon salute awaiting the six participating aircraft underscores the reverence with which the IAF honors this legendary platform’s contribution to national security.
.#MiG-21 has carried the might and pride of the #IAF on its wings for a number of decades. Now, this iconic fighter jet is ready to retire, bowing out in a blaze of glory with grand celebrations on September 26, marking the end of an era and the dawn of a new chapter in IAF… pic.twitter.com/ZeRmLQODdZ
— Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) September 24, 2025
Combat Legacy: Six Decades of Distinguished Service
The MiG-21 established itself as the backbone of Indian air power through participation in every major conflict since 1965, demonstrating remarkable adaptability across diverse operational scenarios. During the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War, just two years after induction, the MiG-21 proved its combat effectiveness as India’s first supersonic fighter, earning the Squadron 28 “First Supersonics” their distinctive nickname. The aircraft’s combat record reached its pinnacle during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, where MiG-21s conducted decisive strikes, including the symbolic bombing of the Governor’s residence in Dhaka that preceded Pakistan’s surrender.
The aircraft’s versatility extended beyond conventional warfare, playing crucial roles in the 1999 Kargil conflict where commanders favored the MiG-21 for its unique combination of high agility, rapid acceleration, and quick turnaround capabilities. The platform’s most recent combat validation came during the 2019 Balakot airstrikes aftermath, when Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman engaged Pakistani F-16s in a MiG-21 Bison, successfully downing an advanced fourth-generation fighter while demonstrating the aircraft’s enduring combat relevance before the eventual MiG 21 retirement process began. This engagement proved that the upgraded MiG-21 Bison, despite its age, remained a formidable adversary when operated by skilled pilots.
The MiG-21’s service record encompasses multiple generations of enemy aircraft, from F-104 Starfighters in 1971 to modern F-16s in 2019, making it one of the most battle-tested platforms in global aviation history before the MiG 21 retirement. The aircraft trained generations of fighter pilots who recall mastering the MiG-21 as both challenging and rewarding, with many describing the intense cockpit environment where pilots could lose over a kilogram of weight during summer missions due to inadequate air conditioning designed for Russian winters.
Production Scale and Operational Impact
India’s MiG-21 program represents one of the largest single-type fighter aircraft procurements in post-independence history, with the IAF acquiring over 874 MiG-21 variants since 1963 before the comprehensive MiG 21 retirement process. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited produced 840 aircraft under license agreements with the Soviet Union, while total global production exceeded 11,496 units across multiple variants, making the MiG-21 one of the most widely manufactured supersonic fighters worldwide. The aircraft formed the numerical backbone of IAF squadrons for approximately three decades, with MiG-21s constituting the majority of India’s combat fleet during its peak operational period.
The MiG-21’s operational statistics reveal the aircraft’s intensive utilization throughout its service life, accumulating approximately 1.5 million flight hours across all variants operated by the IAF before the MiG 21 retirement ceremony. This extensive flying record, while demonstrating the platform’s reliability and operational importance, also highlighted maintenance challenges as the aircraft aged beyond its intended service life. The safety record became a significant concern in later years, with 482 MiG crashes recorded between 1971 and 2012, resulting in casualties among 171 pilots, 39 civilians, eight service personnel, and one aircrew member.
Despite safety challenges, the MiG-21 remained operationally relevant through continuous upgrades, with the MiG-21 Bison representing the most advanced variant featuring modern avionics, radar systems, and weapons integration until the MiG 21 retirement decision. The aircraft’s production under license arrangements also established India’s foundational capabilities in aerospace manufacturing, providing crucial experience that informed subsequent indigenous fighter development programs. The extensive spare parts supply chain and maintenance infrastructure developed for MiG-21 operations created lasting industrial capabilities that continue supporting India’s aviation sector even after the MiG 21 retirement.
Squadron Strength Crisis and Modernization Imperatives
The MiG 21 retirement exacerbates an ongoing squadron strength crisis that has seen the IAF’s combat capability decline from approximately 33 squadrons in 2020 to just 29 after September 26, 2025. This represents the lowest squadron strength in five to six decades, creating significant operational challenges for a force authorized to maintain 42 squadrons for effective defense against potential two-front conflict scenarios. Internal defense reviews suggest India may need to increase squadron requirements by 25-35 percent beyond the current 42-squadron mandate due to evolving geopolitical complexities and threat assessments.
The government has responded to this capability gap by accelerating indigenous fighter procurement, signing a ₹62,370 crore contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for 97 Tejas Mark-1A aircraft on the same day as the MiG 21 retirement farewell ceremony. However, delivery schedules indicate that Tejas aircraft will only begin arriving in 2027-28, creating a multi-year gap in squadron strength recovery following the MiG 21 retirement. The Standing Committee on Defence highlighted this critical timeline mismatch in December 2024, noting that even optimistic projections only anticipate 35-36 squadrons by 2035 if all planned programs succeed on schedule.
The modernization challenge extends beyond simple numerical replacement, as the IAF simultaneously plans to achieve 25 percent fifth-generation fighter composition by 2040 while rebuilding overall squadron strength after the MiG 21 retirement. The Union Budget 2025-26 allocated ₹6,81,210 crore to the Ministry of Defence, representing a 9.5 percent increase with specific emphasis on aircraft and aeroengine procurement that saw a 21 percent budget increase. The modernization budget of ₹2,66,168 crore includes significant provisions for indigenous content, with 75 percent of capital procurement designated for domestic sources, supporting the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Closing Assessment: Strategic Transition and Future Implications
The MiG 21 retirement marks India’s definitive shift from Cold War-era fighter procurement strategies toward indigenous defense manufacturing capabilities that prioritize self-reliance and technological sovereignty. The simultaneous signing of the Tejas Mark-1A contract demonstrates government commitment to bridging capability gaps through domestic production, with the new aircraft featuring over 64 percent indigenous content and supporting approximately 11,750 direct and indirect jobs annually. This transition reflects broader strategic objectives that seek to transform India from one of the world’s largest arms importers into a significant defense manufacturing hub capable of supporting both domestic requirements and export markets.
The ceremony concluding six decades of MiG-21 operations represents more than nostalgic tribute—it symbolizes India’s maturation as a regional power capable of developing and producing advanced military technologies independently following the MiG 21 retirement. Squadron Leader Priya Sharma’s participation as the final woman pilot to fly the MiG-21 underscores the social transformation that has accompanied India’s military modernization, reflecting broader changes in service culture and operational inclusivity. The water cannon salute and ceremonial flypast honor not just an aircraft, but a generation of pilots and ground crew who maintained India’s air sovereignty through decades of regional conflicts and evolving security challenges.
Future historians will likely view September 26, 2025, as a pivotal date in Indian aviation history, when the nation’s dependence on foreign fighter aircraft began its conclusive transition toward indigenous capabilities that promise greater strategic autonomy and operational flexibility through the complete MiG 21 retirement. The ceremony closes a remarkable chapter while opening possibilities for India’s emergence as a significant aerospace power in the 21st century.
