India has formally retired its MiG-21 fighter jets, ending the service life of an aircraft that defined the country’s air power for more than six decades but earned the grim nickname “flying coffin” for its deadly crash record.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) marked the milestone on September 26 with a farewell ceremony at Air Force Station Chandigarh, attended by senior military leaders and the defense minister. Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh led the final flypast in a single-seat MiG-21, symbolically closing the aircraft’s chapter in India.
First inducted in 1963, the MiG-21 became India’s first supersonic jet and the backbone of the IAF. Produced under license by Hindustan Aeronautics, more than 600 aircraft were built domestically. The jets played pivotal roles in the 1965 and 1971 wars against Pakistan, but later faced setbacks, including shootdowns in Kargil (1999) and the 2019 aerial clash.
Over the years, repeated crashes turned the MiG-21 into a symbol of risk, sparking public outcry and the “flying coffin” label. Efforts in the 2000s to modernize the fleet into the Bison variant, with upgraded radars and missile systems, could not overcome the jet’s aging design and safety record.
Although retired in India, the MiG-21 still lingers in limited numbers abroad. According to Cirium data, around 100 aircraft remain with air forces in North Korea, Angola, Yemen, and several African states, though many are likely inactive.
The IAF now faces a shrinking fighter fleet, highlighting the urgent need to accelerate modernization and acquisitions to maintain operational strength amid regional security challenges.
Source: Web Desk
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