Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday paid an emotional tribute to the legendary MiG-21 fighter jet as the Indian Air Force (IAF) officially retired the aircraft after nearly six decades of service.
Speaking at the decommissioning ceremony in Chandigarh, Singh hailed the MiG-21 as more than just a combat aircraft, calling it a “family member, a national pride, and a testimony of India-Russia friendship.” He recalled its decisive role in historic missions, from the 1971 war to the Kargil conflict, the Balakot airstrike, and the recent Operation Sindoor.
The farewell ceremony featured a symbolic last sortie, led by Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, followed by a water cannon salute. In a poignant gesture, the Air Chief handed over the aircraft’s Form 700 logbook to the Defence Minister, marking the end of its journey.
The MiG-21s also flew in a Badal formation, while the Surya Kiran aerobatic team performed manoeuvres. In a special moment, the retiring jets flew alongside the indigenous Tejas aircraft, symbolically passing the baton to the next generation of Indian fighters.
Inducted in 1963, the MiG-21 served the IAF for 63 years, shaping India’s air power and training generations of pilots. Singh emphasized that while often criticised as an ageing fleet, the aircraft had been continuously upgraded by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), with the latest Bison variant boasting advanced avionics and radars.
Recalling its historic strikes, including the bombing of Dhaka’s Governor’s House in 1971, Singh said: “This farewell is not only of an aircraft but of our collective memories, of our courage, sacrifice, and national pride.”
With the MiG-21 officially retired, the indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is set to carry forward its legacy as India’s frontline supersonic fighter.
