India’s first supersonic fighter jet, the venerable MiG-21, is set for its final farewell flight today. After an impressive six-decade tenure safeguarding Indian skies, the aircraft is being ceremonially decommissioned. The grand send-off will take place at Chandigarh Air Force Station, the very base where the MiG-21 was initially inducted into service.
The MiG-21, often hailed as a warhorse, has been a dominant force in the Indian Air Force’s history. It played a crucial role in major conflicts, including the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan, and was instrumental in operations during the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes. The Indian Air Force recently paid tribute to the iconic aircraft, noting its “six decades of service, countless tales of courage, a warhorse that carried pride of a nation into the skies.”
A Fitting Farewell Flypast
The final flight will be undertaken by the ‘Panthers’ squadron, No. 23, which will retire its fleet of MiG-21s. The decommissioning ceremony, scheduled for Friday, September 26, will be graced by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as the chief guest. He will be joined by other high-ranking defense officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff, the Army Chief, the Air Chief Marshal, and the Navy Chief.
The ceremony will feature a ceremonial flypast, with the retiring MiG-21s receiving a water cannon salute upon landing. Notably, Squadron Leader Priya Sharma is slated to be the last woman fighter pilot to fly the MiG-21, having participated in the full dress rehearsal.
The event will also showcase the capabilities of other Indian Air Force aircraft, with the Jaguar and the indigenous Tejas fighter jets participating in the ceremony.
A Legacy of Service
Since its induction in the early 1960s, the MiG-21 has been a cornerstone of India’s aerial defense, with over 870 aircraft reportedly inducted over the years. While it significantly boosted India’s aerial prowess, the aircraft was also involved in a number of crashes, raising safety concerns. Its final operational missions were recently completed at Nal Air Force Station in Rajasthan’s Bikaner, with Air Chief Marshal AP Singh undertaking solo sorties in August.