Despite the highest blowing for the last 62 years, the MiG-21 fighter jet of the Indian Air Force, which has been in controversy, is finally going to retire completely. In the month of September, in the presence of Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and MiG-21’s current and retired fighter pilot in Chandigarh, farewell will be given at a military ceremony. At present, the Air Force has two (02) squadrons of MiG-21, but they are not used for flying.
MiG-21 carried out its last flight in the year 2023 at Air Force Day (8 October) in Prayagraj. Due to the frequent crash, MiG-21 was ‘ground’ since then. At the same time, the then Air Force Chief VR Chaudhary announced the retirement of MiG-21.
India’s first supersonic fighter jet
In 1963, MiG 21, built in Russia, was included in the Air Force fleet. These were India’s first supersonic fighter jet. After this, the MiG-21 on the license from Russia was constructed in the country by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). In the last 62 years, the Air Force has operated around 850 MiG-21 fighter jets.
From the 1965 Pakistan War to Operation Balakot (2019), MiG-21 protected the country’s air-space, when Wing Commander Abhinandan entered Pakistan and killed F-16 in the US. At present, there are two (02) squadrons of MiG-21 in the Air Force, they are stationed at the Naal airbase of Rajasthan.
Around 400 Air Force aircraft crashed in 60 years
In the last 60 years, around 400 Air Force aircraft have crashed, after which there was a demand for these aircraft to be removed from the Air Force continuously. In view of the incidents of Crash of MiG-21, he was being named flying-kaffin. India’s 170 pilots have died in these accidents.
MiG-21 upgrade
After the accident in 2023, the Air Force had banned the flight of the entire fleet of MiG-21. During the flight in Rajasthan on 8 May 2023, a MiG-21 aircraft crashed, in which three people died. This was not the first time that MiG 21 was a victim of accident.
On the theme of the country’s brave fighter pilot being in the crash, a movie like ‘Rang De Basanti’ of Bollywood was also made, but the Air Force did not have a new fighter aircraft to replace these MiG-21 fighter jets. Therefore, there was a compulsion of the Air Force to protect the country’s air-space from these fighter jets. When the pressure was under pressure, the Air Force upgraded these MiG-21 and they were named ‘Bison’, MiG-21 Bison, but the process of crash continued.
F-7 fighter jet crashed in capital Dhaka
On Monday (July 21, 2025), F-7 fighter jet crashed in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka was also a version of MiG-21, which was prepared by Russia by Russia with a license. The Air Force needs Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark-1A instead of MiG 21 fighter jets, which is an upgrade version of LCA-Tejas.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited i.e. HAL is building these light fighter jets, but due to the delay in delivery of aviation engine (F-404) from the US, there has been a hindrance in the construction of Mark-1A. In the month of March this year, the GE company of the American supplied the first engine and the second engine has also arrived last week. In such a situation, the construction of Mark-1A is likely to accelerate.
Mark 1A fighter jet, advanced variety from LCA Tejas
In the year 2021, the Ministry of Defense signed an 83 LCA Mark-1A fighter aircraft from HAL. The total price of this deal was 48 thousand crores. Of these, 10 are Mark 1A trainer aircraft. HAL claims that by 2027-28, the Air Force will get all Mark 1A aircraft. Mark 1A fighter jet is of advanced type of LCA Tejas.
BVR i.e. Beyond Visual Range Missile, Air to Air Refueling, AISA radar, electronic warfare suit, including Early Warning radar system, is more fatal than Mark-1A, LCA Tejas. The first squadron of Mark 1A will be deployed at the Naal Airbase (Bikaner) of Rajasthan bordering the Pakistan border, which will be known as Cobra.
Initially three squadron of Mark 1A will be erected. All these three squadron will be deployed at the forward location airbase of the Western Border, ie Pakistan, bordering border. It is believed that the second squadron will be deployed at Nalia Air Base in Kutch, Gujarat.
Air Force Tejas posted in Tamil Nadu
The ‘Light Combat Aircraft’ (LCA) Tejas, prepared by Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and HAL, has two squadrons in the Air Force so far. Both these squadrons are stationed at Sulur Airbase near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. The name of one squadron is ‘Flying-Dagger’ and the other is ‘Flying-Ballut’. Recently, the Air Force had deployed a detachment of these Tejas squadron at Avantipura Airbase in Kashmir.
Also read:- British Fighter Jet: British fighter jet F-35 Final London left at Trivandrum Airport for 5 weeks, VIDEO surfaced