New Delhi. MiG-21, the most outstanding fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force, was retired today. In the event held in Chandigarh, MiG-21 was bid farewell to the Air Force with a final flight. The MiG-21 was India’s first supersonic fighter aircraft, which rescued enemies in many wars. During this time, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said, “Today, when we are farewell to MiG-21, his operation, I think, we are going to offer a chapter that will be written not only in the history of the Indian Air Force, but also in our entire military aviation’s journey in the journey of Aviation.” MiG-21 is not only an aircraft or machine, but it is also a proof of deep relations between India and Russia.
VIDEO | Chandigarh: IAF’s Mig-21 Fighter jets take to skies for the one last time before being decommosphere.
Mig-21s were induced into the Indian Air Force in 1963. The fighter jets are being decided by after 63 years 63 years of service.#mig21farewell #IAF
(Source:… pic.twitter.com/HXCMUPUEGC
– Press Trust of India (@Pti_News) September 26, 2025
The Defense Minister said, MiG-21 has been witness to many heroic acts for a long time. Its contribution was not limited to any one event or a war. From the 1971 war to the war of Kargil or from Balakot Aerustric to Operation Sindoor, there is no such moment when MiG-21 did not give tremendous strength to our army. Be it any historical mission, every time MiG-21 increased the respect of the tricolor, so it is also of Farewell, our collective memories, our national pride and is also of the journey in which the story of courage, sacrifice and excellence has been written.
🚨 end of an era 🫡
🇮🇳 The IAF’s Iconic Mig-21 Retirs after 63 Years of Service ✈️
In a symbolic farewell, the legendary jet flew in formation with tejas, passing the torch to India’s new fighters 🔥 pic.twitter.com/7den0ztahj
– Megh updates 🚨 ™ (@Meghupdates) September 26, 2025
Rajnath said, just as we honor our soldiers on retirement, similarly we are honoring this world machine, which took the burden of our security on our wings for decades. He said, apart from MiG-21, in the history of the world’s military aviation, there was no such fighter jet that has been built in such a large number. More than 11,500 aircraft of MiG-21 were built worldwide, and about 850 of them were part of the Indian Air Force.
