India Retires MiG-21 Fleet, Inducts Tejas Mk1A for Modern Combat Operations
IAF ends era of ‘Flying Coffins’ as indigenous fighter jets enter service
New Delhi — India will formally retire its remaining fleet of MiG-21 fighter jets this September, concluding a 60-year chapter marked by both operational significance and tragic losses. The Indian Air Force (IAF) will replace the aging Soviet-era aircraft with domestically developed Tejas Mk1A fighter jets, ushering in a new era of homegrown airpower.
Currently flown by the IAF’s 23 Squadron, the Panthers, the last active MiG-21s are stationed at Nal air base in Rajasthan. Their decommissioning will temporarily reduce India’s operational fighter strength to 29 squadrons, the lowest in decades, until the Tejas squadrons are fully integrated.
The MiG-21, once the backbone of India’s air defence, entered service in the early 1960s. Over 700 units were inducted, including variants like Type-77, Type-96, BIS, and Bison. Many were produced under license by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Despite their combat legacy, MiG-21s gained infamy due to frequent crashes, earning the grim nickname ‘Flying Coffins’. Official records cite the deaths of approximately 170 pilots and 40 civilians in MiG-21-related incidents. In May 2023, a crash near Suratgarh, Rajasthan, during a training sortie claimed the lives of three civilians.
The MiG-21’s vulnerability was spotlighted during the 2019 aerial dogfight with Pakistan, following India’s Balakot airstrike. A MiG-21 Bison flown by then Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was downed by the Pakistan Air Force, further fueling criticism of the aircraft’s aging capabilities.
The Tejas Mk1A, developed by HAL, offers modern avionics, better survivability, and improved combat readiness. With this strategic transition, the IAF aims to enhance its air superiority while reducing dependency on outdated platforms.
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