IAF MiG-21 Flies Into The Sunset: Grand Farewell Ceremony After 62 Years of Service | End of an Era
The Indian Air Force (IAF) today officially decommissioned its iconic MiG-21 fighter jet fleet after more than six decades of distinguished service in a grand farewell ceremony at the Chandigarh Air Force Station.
The Russian-origin MiG-21, often called the ‘Backbone of the IAF,’ was inducted in 1963 and has played a pivotal role in every major Indian conflict, including the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars, the 1999 Kargil conflict, and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes (where it famously shot down a Pakistani F-16).
Highlights of the Farewell Ceremony:
Final Sortie: Air Chief Marshal A P Singh flew the last sortie of the Squadron, accompanied by Squadron Leader Priya Sharma, who became the last woman pilot to fly the supersonic jet.
Ceremonial Events: The event featured a spectacular flypast with the iconic MiG-21s in ‘Badal’ and ‘Panther’ formations, a display by the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team, and a symbolic water cannon salute.
Dignitaries: The ceremony was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, and several former IAF Chiefs.
The MiG-21’s retirement closes a major chapter in Indian military aviation history. Its role is now being taken over by modern, indigenously developed aircraft like the LCA Tejas Mk-1A.
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