logo
MiG-21, Indian Air Force's Workhorse, To Be Phased Out In September

MiG-21, Indian Air Force's Workhorse, To Be Phased Out In September

NDTV4 days ago
New Delhi:
The MiG-21 - that redoubtable warhorse of the Indian Air Force - will be phased out of active service by September, to be replaced by the newer and nimbler Tejas Mk1A fighter jets.
The IAF has 36 MiG-21 planes left in its arsenal, a far cry from the nearly 900 - of which around 660 were built in India - that so successfully protected the nation's skies and territories.
The MiG-21 first entered service in 1963, on a trial basis. The Russian-made jet went on to form the backbone of the Air Force till the mid-2000s, when the Sukhoi Su-30MKIs were brought in.
The final variant to serve India - the ones which will now be phased out - was the Bison, which featured upgraded electronics and better navigation and communications systems.
In October 2023, MiG-21 fighter aircraft from the No 4 squadron flew for one last time over the town of Barmer in Rajasthan, a 'farewell and thank you for the memories' moment it shared with the planes taking up its role in the state that borders Pakistan, the also Russian-made Sukhoi.
#WATCH | Marking the end of an era, the MiG-21 Bison fighter aircraft of the No 4 squadron of the Indian Air Force flew for the last time over the Uttarlai town in Barmer, Rajasthan. On this occasion, the MiG-21 Bison flew alongside the Su-30 MKI. pic.twitter.com/2lyRgcEDZj
— ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2023
"We will stop flying the MiG-21 fighter aircraft by 2025 and will replace them with the LCA Mark-1A," then-Air Force chief, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari had said then.
In July 2022 the Air Force had confirmed a three-year timeline to phase out the four remaining MiG-21 squadrons still in service. The plan also involves phasing out the MiG-29s by 2027.
The phasing out of the MiG-21 fleet comes after numerous crashes involving the aging plane, including an incident in Rajasthan in May 2023 in which the three villagers were killed.
The MiG-21 in question took off from the Suratgarh Air Force base for a routine exercise when it crashed near Bahlol Nagar in Rajasthan's Hanumangarh after a 'technical snag'.
The Air Force grounded the entire MiG-21 fleet after that accident.
Among the earlier squadrons to have been phased out was the Srinagar-based No 51, which took part in Operation Safed Sagar during the Kargil war. It also repulsed Pakistan's retaliatory action in February 2019, a day after airstrikes in Balakot targeted terrorist camps in Pak.
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, now a Group Captain, who shot down a Pak jet in aerial combat before he was forced down too and was captured, was from that squadron.
Meanwhile, India is also developing a fifth-generation stealth fighter that will vault the country into an elite club - one of only three other countries with such advanced fighter aircraft.
NDTV Explains |
The multirole Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft will be a single-seat, twin-engine jet with advanced stealth coatings and internal weapons bays, and the plane - most of which will made in-house, at Bengaluru's Aeronautical Development Agency - will cost over Rs 15,000 crore.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'Indian citizens pushed into Bangladesh at gunpoint': Owaisi makes shocking claims; calls detention of Bengali-speaking Muslims 'illegal'
'Indian citizens pushed into Bangladesh at gunpoint': Owaisi makes shocking claims; calls detention of Bengali-speaking Muslims 'illegal'

Time of India

time19 minutes ago

  • Time of India

'Indian citizens pushed into Bangladesh at gunpoint': Owaisi makes shocking claims; calls detention of Bengali-speaking Muslims 'illegal'

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi (Image credits: ANI) NEW DELHI: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday criticised the detention and deportation of Bengali-speaking Muslim citizens across India, accusing the police administration of unfairly branding them as "illegal immigrants. " Taking a dig at the BJP-led central government, Owaisi alleged it was acting 'strong with the weak" by going after the country's poorest communities. Taking to social media platform X, Owaisi claimed that those being labelled as illegal immigrants were repeatedly targeted because they lacked the means to challenge police atrocities. 'There have been disturbing reports of Indian citizens being pushed into Bangladesh at gunpoint,' said Owaisi in his post. "Police in different parts of India have been illegally detaining Bengali-speaking Muslim citizens and accusing them of being Bangladeshi. This government acts strong with the weak, and weak with the strong. Most of those who are accused of being 'illegal immigrants' are the poorest of the poor: slum-dwellers, cleaners, domestic workers, rag-pickers, etc. They have been targeted repeatedly because they are not in a position to challenge police atrocities," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 1 Teaspoon Before Bed Burns Body Fat - You Will Fit Into Your Clothes Again! Weight Loss Journal Click Here Undo In the same post, Owaisi also shared an image of an official order from the office of the District magistrate in Gurugram, which said that the state government has implemented a standard operating procedure (SOP) for deporting Bangladeshi citizens and Rohingyas. "Police do not have the power to detain people just because they speak a particular language. These wide-net detentions are illegal," said Owaisi. The AIMIM chief's statement came days after the Pune city police arrested five Bangladeshi women from the Budhwar Peth red-light area. Acting on a specific tip-off, officers from Faraskhana Police Station and the anti-human trafficking unit (AHTU) carried out a raid, reported ANI. The women, aged between 20 and 28, were found residing in India without valid documents and using fake identity cards. Investigations revealed that they had illegally entered India from Bangladesh, posed as West Bengal residents, and were allegedly involved in prostitution in Pune. The operation also exposed a human trafficking network that facilitated their illegal entry and stay in the country. Cases have been filed under the Immigration Act, Passport Act, and relevant provisions of human trafficking laws. Meanwhile, in Assam, the BJP-led state government is continuing its eviction drive against what it calls illegal encroachments on tribal land. State minister Atul Bora voiced full support for the initiative, saying it was essential to protect tribal belts from "doubtful people." The Assam BJP on Tuesday reiterated that eviction drives will continue until all illegally occupied land is cleared, cited ANI.

OTT crackdown: Govt bans Ullu, ALTT, Desiflix, Mojflix & 20+ platforms over vulgar content
OTT crackdown: Govt bans Ullu, ALTT, Desiflix, Mojflix & 20+ platforms over vulgar content

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

OTT crackdown: Govt bans Ullu, ALTT, Desiflix, Mojflix & 20+ platforms over vulgar content

The Indian government has banned public access to several OTT platforms, including Ullu, ALTT, and Desiflix, for showing obscene and vulgar content. According to a report by news agency ANI, the banned platforms were found violating different laws, including Section 67 and 67A of the Information Technology Act , 2000, Section 294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. A source quoted by ANI said, 'There was hardly any storyline, theme or message in a social context.' Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Public Policy Others Cybersecurity Healthcare Operations Management others Data Analytics Project Management Data Science Artificial Intelligence MCA Digital Marketing PGDM MBA Data Science Technology Design Thinking Management CXO healthcare Product Management Degree Leadership Finance Skills you'll gain: Economics for Public Policy Making Quantitative Techniques Public & Project Finance Law, Health & Urban Development Policy Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Professional Certificate Programme in Public Policy Management Starts on Mar 3, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Calcutta Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management Starts on undefined Get Details Why the Ban Was Imposed The action was taken after consultations with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), Department of Legal Affairs, and industry bodies like FICCI and CII. Experts in women's and child rights were also involved. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has asked internet service providers (ISPs) to block these apps and websites to stop the spread of obscene, vulgar and pornographic content. In its notice, the ministry reminded that intermediaries are responsible for removing illegal content under the IT Act, 2000, and the IT Rules, 2021. What the Law Says Section 67 of the IT Act punishes anyone who publishes or sends obscene content online. The penalty is up to 3 years in jail and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh for the first offence. A second offence can lead to 5 years in jail and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh. Live Events Section 67A is stricter and deals with sexually explicit content. A first-time offender may get 5 years in jail and a Rs 10 lakh fine. Repeat offenders can face 7 years in jail. OTT Platforms That Got Banned As per the ANI report, 14 apps and 26 websites have been banned. Some of the platforms in the list are: ALTT ULLU Big Shots App Desiflix Boomex Navarasa Lite Gulab App Kangan App Bull App Jalva App Wow Entertainment Look Entertainment Hitprime Feneo ShowX Sol Talkies Adda TV HotX VIP Hulchul App MoodX NeonX VIP Fugi Mojflix Triflicks The government's move aims to curb the spread of content that is considered harmful, especially to women and children. Inputs from TOI

Four people killed in Russia and Ukraine as countries trade aerial attacks
Four people killed in Russia and Ukraine as countries trade aerial attacks

New Indian Express

timean hour ago

  • New Indian Express

Four people killed in Russia and Ukraine as countries trade aerial attacks

Russia and Ukraine traded aerial attacks overnight, resulting in two deaths in each country, according to officials. Ukraine's southern Dnipro and northeastern Sumy regions came under combined rocket and drone attack, local officials reported. Head of the Dnipro regional administration Serhii Lysak said at least two people had died and five were wounded in the barrage. In the city of Dnipro, a multi-story building and business were damaged during the strike and in the region a fire engulfed a shopping center. In Sumy, the military administration said three people were injured. Kharkiv sustained an intense aerial bombardment overnight with local authorities reporting Ukraine's second-largest city was hit by four guided aerial bombs, two ballistic missiles and 15 drones over a three-hour period. In a post on Telegram, Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov said high-rise residential buildings, local businesses, roads and the communication network were damaged in the attack. He said at least five people were injured, including three rescue workers who were wounded in a double tap strike — where a second attack targets emergency workers trying to help people wounded in the initial attack. According to the daily air force report, in total Russia targeted Ukraine with 208 drones and 27 missiles overnight. It said according to preliminary data, air defense and electronic warfare took down or intercepted 183 drones and 17 missiles but hits from 10 missiles and 25 drones had been recorded in nine locations. In Russia, officials said that Ukrainian drones targeted multiple regions overnight. A drone attack on the Rostov region, on the border with Ukraine, killed two people, acting governor Yuri Slyusar reported. In the neighboring Stavropol region, drones hit an unspecified industrial facility, governor Vladimir Vladimirov said on Telegram. He added that the attack sparked a brief fire, but didn't specify where exactly. Vladimirov said cellphone internet in the region was restricted because of the attack — a measure authorities regularly take across the vast country that critics say helps widespread online censorship. An unconfirmed media report said videos posted online by local residents showed that the drones hit the Signal radio plant that makes jamming equipment. The Associated Press was unable to verify the claim. Drones also targeted Moscow, but were shot down, according to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, and an unspecified industrial facility in the Penza region southeast of the capital, Gov. Oleg Melnichenko said. Russia's Defense Ministry said that its air defenses shot down or intercepted a total of 54 Ukrainian drones, including 24 over the Bryansk region on the border with Ukraine, 12 over the Rostov region, six over the annexed Crimean Peninsula, four over the Azov sea, three over the Black Sea and a few others over the Orlov, Tula and Belgorod regions. Russian civil aviation agency Rosaviatsia overnight briefly halted flights in and out of airports serving the city of Kaluga, southwest of Moscow, as well as Vladikavkaz and Grozny in the North Caucasus

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store