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The roar of the MiG-21 echoed one last time across the skies of Chandigarh on Friday, as India formally retired the iconic supersonic fighter jet that had been the backbone of its air power for more than six decades.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the aircraft as “a mighty machine and a national pride,” highlighting its significance not only as a combat asset but also as a symbol of enduring India-Russia ties. “The MiG-21 is not just a machine,” he said. “It represents confidence, courage, and a chapter of pride in our military aviation history.”
The event drew serving officers, veterans, and former air chiefs, many of whom had flown the aircraft during critical wars and conflicts. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s first astronaut, joined the ceremony alongside former chiefs A.Y. Tipnis, S.P. Tyagi, and B.S. Dhanoa, creating a gathering steeped in aviation history.
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The farewell began with a skydiving display by the elite IAF ‘Akash Ganga’ team, followed by a ceremonial water cannon salute to the MiG-21. The jets of No. 23 Squadron — known as the “Panthers” — conducted their final flypast in the iconic “Badal” and “Panther” formations. The Surya Kiran aerobatic team wowed the audience with intricate manoeuvres, while Jaguar and Tejas fighters joined to showcase the modern era of Indian air power.
The MiG-21 was first inducted in 1963, with its inaugural squadron led by Dilbagh Singh, who later became Air Chief Marshal in 1981. Over the years, India procured more than 870 MiG-21s, making them central to the nation’s air combat strategy. These jets played critical roles in the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan, the 1999 Kargil conflict, and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes.
Despite its celebrated combat history, the aircraft earned the grim nickname “flying coffin” due to frequent crashes over decades. Its ageing fleet and safety concerns ultimately accelerated the transition to modern fighters such as the indigenous Tejas and the French-built Rafale.
Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, the current IAF chief, flew a MiG-21 sortie with the call sign “Badal 3” as a final tribute. Only a month earlier, he had piloted solo flights from Nal Air Force Station in Rajasthan, where the jets had made their last operational sorties.
For many attendees, the ceremony was a moment of both pride and nostalgia. The MiG-21, India’s first supersonic jet, had inspired generations of pilots and represented a milestone in the country’s aviation history.
“The sun set on the MiG-21 today,” one veteran pilot reflected, “but its thunder will never be forgotten.”
