News that fits you

Highlights

  • IAF retires MiG-21 jets with farewell flypast in Chandigarh
  • Rajnath Singh calls MiG-21 a “mighty machine” and national pride
  • Jets played key roles in 1965, 1971, Kargil wars and Balakot strikes

Latest news

Putin hails Ukraine gains, threatens more, in annual press conference

Putin hails Ukraine gains, threatens more, in annual press conference

OnePlus Pad Go 2 Review: No drama, just a good tablet  

OnePlus Pad Go 2 Review: No drama, just a good tablet  

Parliament Moment: Priyanka Gandhi shares tea with Rajnath Singh. PM Modi and Om Birla

Parliament Moment: Priyanka Gandhi shares tea with Rajnath Singh. PM Modi and Om Birla

Cold wave deepens in Kashmir as Chillai-Kalan nears, temperatures dip below freezing

Cold wave deepens in Kashmir as Chillai-Kalan nears, temperatures dip below freezing

Pakistan accuses India of attempting to undermine Indus treaty

Pakistan accuses India of attempting to undermine Indus treaty

Vande Mataram discussion in UP legislature to mark 150th anniversary: Yogi Adityanath

Vande Mataram discussion in UP legislature to mark 150th anniversary: Yogi Adityanath

Ashes 2025: Travis Head slams unbeaten 142 to crush England's Ashes hopes

Ashes 2025: Travis Head slams unbeaten 142 to crush England's Ashes hopes

Tipra Motha youth wing protests Bangladesh leader's anti-India remarks in Agartala

Tipra Motha youth wing protests Bangladesh leader's anti-India remarks in Agartala

MiG-21 flies through Indian skies for last time, Rajnath terms it 'national pride'

The Indian Air Force retired its legendary MiG-21 jets after over 60 years of service with a ceremonial flypast in Chandigarh, marking the end of an era in India’s air defence history.

Updated: Sep 02, 2022 10:53
|

PTI

MiG-21 flies through Indian skies for last time, Rajnath terms it 'national pride'

The legendary Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 fighter jets, the the backbone of the Indian Air Force's combat fleet for more than six decades, streaked through Indian skies for the last time on Friday -- its final adieu edged in history and many a remembrance.

The sun shone bright, the skies cloudless and a brilliant blue, providing a picture perfect setting for the elaborate farewell to the Russian origin warhorse that was inducted into the IAF in the 1960s.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Chandigarh | All airborne MIG-21 aircraft execute their final operational landing simultaneously. <br><br>MiG-21s were inducted into the Indian Air Force in 1963, and will be decommissioned today after 63 years of service. <a href="https://t.co/uDnMXpG0Rr">pic.twitter.com/uDnMXpG0Rr</a></p>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1971459395063251184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Describing the MiG-21 as a mighty machine and a national pride, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said there is deep attachment to the aircraft that shaped our confidence.

"MiG-21 is not only an aircraft or machine but also proof of deep India-Russia ties," the minister said.

"The history of military aviation is incredible. The MiG 21 added many proud moments in our military aviation journey," Singh told the gathering.

Besides him, former IAF chiefs A Y Tipnis, S P Tyagi and B S Dhanoa, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India's first man on the International Space Station, and scores of veterans, many who had piloted the aircraft, were present on the occasion.

Air Chief Marshal A P Singh flew the sortie of the MiG-21 Bison aircraft with call sign Badal 3. Dilbagh Singh, who became the IAF chief in 1981, led the first MiG-21 Squadron here in 1963.

The culmination of MiG-21 operations took place with a ceremonial flypast and decommissioning event, marking the closure of a historic chapter in India's air power.

The country's first supersonic fighter and interceptor aircraft were retired at the decommissioning event in Chandigarh, where it was first inducted.

The ceremony began with the arrival of the minister, the chief guest at the occasion, followed by a spectacular display by IAF's elite skydiving team 'Akash Ganga', which skydived from a height of 8,000 feet.

This was followed by a majestic flypast of the MiG-21 aircraft accompanied by precision of the air warrior drill team and an aerial salute.

The fighter pilots flew MiG-21s in the three-aircraft Badal formation and the four-aircraft Panther formation roared over the skies one final time.

The Surya Kiran aerobatic team also enthralled the audience with their breathtaking manoeuvres.

MiG-21 jets, belonging to number 23 Squadron, took part in the flypast ceremony, and were given a water cannon salute.

The Jaguar and the Tejas aircrafts also took part in the ceremony. 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.

After its first induction, the IAF procured over 870 MiG-21s to boost its overall combat prowess.

The supersonic jets 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 the 2019 Balakot airstrikes.

The aircraft has also had a troubled safety record and involved in multiple crashes in the last six decades. The ageing fleet prompted some to describe the aircraft as "legacy coffins".

The MiG-21 jets made their last operational flights at the Nal Air Force Station in Rajasthan's Bikaner, a month ahead of the formal retirement ceremony.

As part of the symbolic farewell, Air Chief Marshal Singh had also flown solo sorties of the MiG-21 from Nal on August 18-19.

ADVERTISEMENT

Up Next

MiG-21 flies through Indian skies for last time, Rajnath terms it 'national pride'

MiG-21 flies through Indian skies for last time, Rajnath terms it 'national pride'

Tipra Motha youth wing protests Bangladesh leader's anti-India remarks in Agartala

Tipra Motha youth wing protests Bangladesh leader's anti-India remarks in Agartala

AAP holds review meeting in Navsari ahead of municipal corporation elections

AAP holds review meeting in Navsari ahead of municipal corporation elections

Parliament concludes productive winter session; Rajya Sabha 121%, Lok Sabha 111%

Parliament concludes productive winter session; Rajya Sabha 121%, Lok Sabha 111%

Disruptions unbecoming of MPs, says Rajya Sabha Chairman as Winter session ends

Disruptions unbecoming of MPs, says Rajya Sabha Chairman as Winter session ends

Winter Session of Lok Sabha ends; key bills passed, debates see politically-charged attacks

Winter Session of Lok Sabha ends; key bills passed, debates see politically-charged attacks

ADVERTISEMENT

editorji-whatsApp

More videos

AAP holds protest in Ahmedabad’s Naroda after demolition of houses, alleges lack of rehabilitation

AAP holds protest in Ahmedabad’s Naroda after demolition of houses, alleges lack of rehabilitation

AAP claims major win in Punjab local body polls; Gujarat unit sees momentum ahead of state elections

AAP claims major win in Punjab local body polls; Gujarat unit sees momentum ahead of state elections

Dense fog blankets north India, IMD issues red alert for Delhi

Dense fog blankets north India, IMD issues red alert for Delhi

Opposition sits on overnight protest in parliament against passage of G RAM G bill

Opposition sits on overnight protest in parliament against passage of G RAM G bill

AAP MLA Hemant Khava flags poor road conditions, questions toll tax usage in Gujarat

AAP MLA Hemant Khava flags poor road conditions, questions toll tax usage in Gujarat

AAP calls Punjab district panchayat win historic, eyes Gujarat local body polls

AAP calls Punjab district panchayat win historic, eyes Gujarat local body polls

Gujarat AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava questions police action against tribal villagers in Banaskantha

Gujarat AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava questions police action against tribal villagers in Banaskantha

Congress misleading public on National Herald case, matter still in court: BJP

Congress misleading public on National Herald case, matter still in court: BJP

Goa nightclub fire: Luthra brothers taken to Anjuna police station after medical examination

Goa nightclub fire: Luthra brothers taken to Anjuna police station after medical examination

10 Ahmedabad schools get bomb threat, turns out to be hoax after search

10 Ahmedabad schools get bomb threat, turns out to be hoax after search

Categories

Editorji Technologies Pvt. Ltd. © 2022 All Rights Reserved.