Latest news with #MiG-21
Hans India
20 minutes ago
- Politics
- Hans India
IAF to phase out 'flying coffins' MiG 21, replace with Tejas
New Delhi: The Indian Air Force will be phasing out its MiG 21 fighter jet aircraft by September 2025, and replace them with the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark 1A, defence officials said on Tuesday. First inducted in 1963, these jets will be retired after 62 years of service with the indigenously developed Tejas aircraft replacing them in all the current squadrons. The squadrons operating the MiG 21 plane are currently in Rajasthan's Nal Air Force base. The MiG 21 is also called the 'flying coffin' for the 400 crashes killing 200 pilots. "Indian Air Force to phase out the MiG-21 fighter jet by September this year. The squadrons operating the aircraft are currently in Nal air base in Rajasthan. The LCA Mark 1A aircraft would be replacing the MiG-21s in the IAF," a defence official said. The MiG 21 is India's first ever supersonic jet, acquired as part of a deal with the erstwhile Soviet Union in 1963. The aircraft has had limited use in the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war, but was subsequently used multiple military conflicts since, including the 1999 Kargil War, 1971 Bangladesh Liberation the aircraft was also used during the 2019 Balakot airstrike against terrorist camps in Pakistan. During the operation, one MiG 21 was downed, leading to the capture of Wing Commander Abhinadnan. The present Air Force Chief of Air Staff, AP Singh, also flew the MiG 21 aircraft fighter jet has also been the mainstay of Air Force operations. However, the aircraft has been unofficially dubbed as the 'flying coffin' due to the various accidents with it. In October 2023, Number 4 Squadron, known as "Oorials" of the IAF based at Air Force Station Uttarlai (Barmer), Rajasthan, decommissioned their MiG 21 and Su-30 MKI, marking a watershed moment in the history of the squadron, which had been operating the MiG-21 since 1966. Earlier on July 17 2025, The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) were handed over the first set of wing assemblies for Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A, produced by Larsen & Toubro, according to an official statement from the Ministry of (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar attended the event virtually as General Manager (LCA Tejas Division) M Abdul Salam received the assemblies on behalf of HAL from Precision Manufacturing & Systems Complex unit of L&T.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
MiG-21s set for final flight in Sept after 62 years in service
Mi-21 fighters NEW DELHI: The first truly supersonic fighters to be inducted by the Indian Air Force from Russia in 1963 but plagued by an alarmingly high crash rate in later years, the MiG-21s will fly for the last time in Indian skies this Sept. The IAF is now left with only two MiG-21 'Bison' squadrons, totalling 36 fighters, at the Nal airbase in Rajasthan. The ceremonial farewell for the MiG-21s, after over six decades in service, which saw the old warhorses take part in all major conflicts, will take place at Chandigarh on Sept 19. After the first lot of MiG-21s were inducted from Russia, the single-engine jets were produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in large numbers and also underwent upgrades later. The highly-unforgiving and ageing MiG-21s, however, continued to lack modern systems with built-in safety mechanisms. Huge delays in the production of the indigenous Tejas light combat aircraft, which were supposed to replace the virtually obsolete MiG-21s, means that the IAF will now be left with just 29 fighter squadrons. This when the IAF authorised 42.5 squadrons for the collusive challenge from China and Pakistan. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo TOI had earlier reported the two remaining MiG-21 squadrons will be retired this year after the IAF repeatedly deferred the phasing out of the delta-wing jets due to the depletion in the number of its fighter squadrons. The MiG-21 jets and the Cheetah/Chetak helicopters, which number around 350 in the armed forces, in particular, should have been retired at least a couple of decades ago. Of the 872 MiG-21s progressively inducted by IAF, over 400 were lost in accidents since 1971-72. Crashes of different MiG variants, the bulk of them being MiG-21s, have killed well over 200 pilots and 50 civilians on the ground over the decades. The MiG-21s, however, did play a stellar role especially during the 1965 and 1971 wars.
India Today
8 hours ago
- Health
- India Today
What led to Jagdeep Dhankhar's sudden resignation? Experts weigh in
This edition of India First covers the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar as the Vice President of India and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, citing health reasons. The resignation has sparked a political controversy, with the opposition alleging underlying issues beyond health concerns. Speculation suggests friction with the government, particularly after Dhankhar's outspoken comments on farm protests and his acceptance of an opposition-led impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma. Dhankhar's resignation came shortly after he declared his intention to serve until 2027. The programme debates whether the resignation was due to health issues or political fallout. Additionally, the broadcast reports on the busting of a major religious conversion racket with arrests in Agra and Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, revealing links to terror outfits and foreign funding. It also covers the planned retirement of the Indian Air Force's MiG-21 fighter jets in September 2025.
India.com
9 hours ago
- General
- India.com
After 62 Glorious Years Of Service, India's Legendary MiG-21 Fighter Jet Set To Retire
In a significant move, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has officially announced the retirement of its iconic MiG-21 fighter jets. The aircraft, which has served the nation since 1963, will take its final flight on September 19, 2025 from the Chandigarh Air Base, home to the IAF's 23rd Panther Squadron. Nicknamed the "AK-47 of the skies" for its precision and reliability, the MiG-21 has safeguarded India's airspace for over six decades. Initially used for surveillance in the 1965 war due to a lack of trained pilots, the jet proved its mettle in the 1971 India-Pakistan war by downing 13 Pakistani aircraft with only one loss. It also played a crucial role in the 1999 Kargil War and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, where Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman famously shot down a Pakistani F-16 using his MiG-21 Bison. In today's DNA, Zee News Managing Editor, Rahul Sinha decorded the glorious years of India's Legendary MiG-21 Fighter Jet. Watch Today's Full Episode Despite its valor, the MiG-21's history is also marred by frequent crashes, earning it the grim title of "flying coffin." Still, it remains the world's oldest operational fighter jet, with several countries like Syria, Libya, North Korea, and Cuba still using modified versions. Others, such as Yemen and Uganda, continue flying its original version. Interestingly, civilians in some countries can now purchase retired MiG-21s for display, subject to strict demilitarization and licensing. Designed by Artem Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich, the aircraft's name stands for MiG – Mikoyan-Gurevich. Globally, over 11,500 units have been produced and used by more than 60 countries. As India prepares to bid farewell to this legendary warbird, the MiG-21's legacy of bravery, sacrifice, and excellence will remain deeply etched in the golden pages of the Indian Air Force's history.
The Print
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Print
Legendary MiG-21 jets set to retire after over six decades in service
The MiG-21s used to be the mainstay of the IAF for a long period of time. The last of the MiG-21 jets, belonging to number 23 Squadron, nicknamed 'Panthers' will be given a farewell at a ceremony in Chandigarh airbase on September 19, they said. New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) The legendary Russian-origin MiG-21 aircraft are finally set to retire from the Indian Air Force (IAF) in September after remaining in service for over six decades, people aware of the development said on Tuesday. After its first induction in the 1960s, the IAF procured over 870 MiG-21 fighters to boost its overall combat prowess. However, the aircraft has a very poor safety record. The MiG-21s were the dominant platforms during 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan. The aircraft also played a key role in the 1999 Kargil conflict as well as 2019 Balakot airstrikes. With phasing out of the last of the few MiG-21s, the number of the IAF's fighter squadrons is expected to come down to an abysmal low of 29 from the officially sanctioned strength of 42. The IAF was planning to replace the MiG-21s with Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (Mark1A). However, there has been delays in supply of the indigenously-built aircraft by the state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). In February 2021, the defence ministry sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with HAL for the procurement of 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets for the IAF. The ministry is also in the process of procuring 97 more LCA Mk-1As at a cost of around Rs 67,000 crore. Tejas is a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft capable of operating in high-threat air environments. It has been designed to undertake air defence, maritime reconnaissance and strike roles. The HAL is looking at supplying 12 Tejas jets to the IAF by March, 2025. PTI MPB KVK KVK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
