IAF's MiG-21 aircraft to retire in ceremonial decommissioning on Sept 19 after 6 decades of service
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to retire the remaining Russian-origin MiG-21 fleet in a ceremonial decommissioning on September 19 at the Chandigarh airbase, media reports said.
Two squadrons of the MiG-21 Bisons are currently active for the Indian Air Force.
India procured more than 700 MiG-21 aircraft of different variants, such as the Type-77, Type-96, BIS and the Bison, since the aircraft’s induction in the IAF in 1963
"Indian Air Force to phase out the MiG-21 fighter jet by September this year. The squadrons operating the aircraft are currently in Nal air base in Rajasthan. The LCA Mark 1A aircraft would be replacing the MiG-21s in the IAF," ANI reported, quoting a defence official.
The MiG 21 is India's first ever supersonic jet, acquired as part of a deal with the erstwhile Soviet Union in 1963.
The aircraft has had limited use in the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war, but was subsequently used in multiple military conflicts since, including the 1999 Kargil War, 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
The phasing out of the aging MiG-21 fleet was originally scheduled to be concluded by 2022.
However, it was held up due to the delay in the planned induction of other fighter jets, including the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, which are set to replace the MiG-21 squadrons.
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