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The Indian Air Force (IAF) is officially retiring its Russian-made MiG-21 fighter jets after 62 years of service, with the final aircraft set to be decommissioned on September 19, according to Indian media reports.
The indigenous Tejas Mark-1A fighter jets are expected to replace the aging fleet, although the IAF has yet to receive the first batch, originally scheduled for delivery in March 2024.
India had operated 876 MiG-21s over the decades, but nearly 490 have crashed, claiming the lives of around 200 pilots.
Despite their long and controversial service record, MiG-21s played a crucial role in several key military operations, including the 1965 and 1971 wars, Operation Sindoori, the Kargil War, and the Balakot airstrikes.
With the retirement of the MiG-21s, the IAF’s operational fighter squadron strength will fall to 29, it’s lowest in decades, raising concerns about maintaining aerial combat readiness amid regional tensions.
The transition marks a significant shift in India’s defense strategy, moving from legacy Soviet-era technology to homegrown combat aircraft, as part of the country’s broader push for self-reliance in defense manufacturing.
