MiG-21 set to take final flight: 10 interesting facts about IAF's 6-decade-old workhorse

File: A MIG-21 aircraft flies past during the AERO India 2019

MiG-21, the Indian Air Force's (IAF) legendary workhouse, will fly off into the sunset on September 26 as it retires from service in a grand ceremony in Chandigarh.

The Russian-made jet, which was first inducted into the IAF almost six decades ago, has been the cornerstone of Indian air defence during crucial conflicts - be it the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War or the 1999 Kargil war.

The jet, manufactured under license by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), formed a large fraction of Air Force's operational squadrons at one point.

Here are 10 interesting facts about the MiG-21 as it prepares to take its last flight:

1. India has acquired more than 800 MiG-21s over its service life, with MiG-21 “Bison” being one of the late upgraded variants flown by the IAF.

2. The first-ever MiG-21 was inducted into the IAF in 1963. The supersonic jet went on to play a dominant role in the Indo-Pak war just two years later in 1965.

#MiG21 culmination ceremony
26 Sep 2025#MiG21#indianairforce@DefenceMinIndia@SpokespersonMoD@HQ_IDS_India@adgpi@indiannavy@IndiannavyMedia@CareerinIAF pic.twitter.com/CL0lKVjDKI

— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) September 25, 2025

3. Besides the 1971 and 1999 wars with Pakistan, the aircraft also played a key role during the 2019 Balakot airstrikes. In 2019, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman engaged in a dogfight with Pakistani jets in a MiG 21. The jet was shot down by the Pakistani Air Force but it also took down their more advanced F-16 during the engagement.

4. The IAF’s final MiG-21 squadrons (e.g., No. 23 “Panthers”) were phased out and the aircraft was formally retired in September 2025 after over six decades of service.

5. The MiG-21 first flew in 1955 and was introduced into service in 1959. It can reach twice the speed of sound (Mach 2) in suitable configurations.

6. In the 1971 Indo-Pak war, MiG-21s achieved the first supersonic air combat in the subcontinent, with claims of shooting down Pakistan’s F-104 Starfighter.

7. In August 1999, two IAF MiG-21FLs intercepted and shot down a Pakistani maritime surveillance aircraft (Breguet Atlantic) over Indian airspace.

8. The IAF's MiG-21 fighter jets made their last operational flights at the Nal Air Force Station in Rajasthan's Bikaner, a month ahead of the formal retirement ceremony.

9. The MiG-21 is the most-produced supersonic jet aircraft in aviation history, with over 11,000 units built.

10. The MiG-21 aircraft were also involved in multiple crashes in the last six decades, with spotlight many times being on the safety record of the ageing fleet of the Soviet-origin aircraft. It also developed the nickname “flying coffin” due to these crashes.