India has formally retired its last MiG-21 fighter jets, concluding a turbulent six-decade service that earned the aircraft notoriety as flying coffins due to repeated crashes.
A farewell ceremony was held at Air Force Station Chandigarh, where Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh personally flew a MiG-21 in the final flypast.
The retirement marks the closure of a controversial era that began in 1963, when India became the first non-communist country to induct Soviet-built MiG-21 fighters.
The jets formed the backbone of the Indian Air Force for decades, playing central roles during the 1965 and 1971 wars against Pakistan.
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Despite operational successes, the aircraft earned a grim reputation after hundreds of fatal crashes, leading to mounting criticism and the dreaded title of flying coffin.
India attempted to extend the fleet’s lifespan by upgrading jets to the Bison standard with advanced radars, avionics, and beyond-visual-range missile capabilities.
These enhancements, however, failed to erase the aircraft’s image as unsafe, especially after losses in aerial clashes against Pakistan’s modern fighters in recent conflicts.
Globally, the MiG-21 remains in service with seven countries, though many airframes are outdated, while some are displayed in museums or preserved by collectors.