The Indian Air Force’s iconic MiG-21 jets, which served as the mainstay of its fighter fleet for more than sixty years, undertook their final operational missions from Nal Air Base in Bikaner.
This comes a month before their formal de-induction ceremony scheduled in Chandigarh tomorrow.
As a tribute to the aircraft’s legacy, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh flew solo sorties in the MiG-21 on Monday, an event that carried deep emotional weight for the force and for countless aviators who had trained and flown on the Soviet-designed platform since its induction.
Speaking after the flight, the Air Chief noted that the MiG-21 had been the backbone of the IAF since the 1960s. Globally, too, it was one of the most widely produced supersonic fighters, with more than 11,000 built and operated by over 60 nations.
#WATCH | Nal Air Base, Bikaner, Rajasthan: Ahead of the official retirement of the MiG-21 fighter planes, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and pilots take a few sorties in the aircraft. pic.twitter.com/VHulY3ObHE— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2025
Looking ahead, Singh highlighted that the indigenous Tejas fighter was conceived specifically to take the MiG-21’s place.
Compact in design and drawing aerodynamic inspiration from the Mirage, Tejas features a delta-wing platform and is expected to evolve into multiple variants.
With 83 jets already contracted and another order on the horizon, Singh said the aircraft would gradually assume the roles once filled by the MiG-21. He added that Tejas, in its present form, is well-suited for initial fighter training while future versions such as the Mk2 and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) would carry the legacy forward.
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