India is preparing to decommission its last remaining MiG-21 fighters in fall 2025, after more than 60 years of service with the aircraft. The farewell ceremony is scheduled to take place on September 19 at the Chandigarh airbase, India Today reports.
For the Indian Air Force, the event will bear a particular significance, considering that it has been repeatedly postponing the retirement of these old jets from year to year.
Read more: A-10 Attack Aircraft Could Take Down Shaheds and Naval Drones, but What Are the Drawbacks?
India commissioned its first MiG-21 into service back in 1963, that is, 62 years ago. Since then, India has operated 874 MiG-21 fighters of various types, more than two-thirds of them were manufactured locally, under license, and more than half were lost in various incidents.
Despite all the negative experiences and shortcomings, the MiG-21 aircraft are still technically in service with the Indian Air Force. According to open-source data, the jet count stands at 36 — quite many, compared to other few nations that preserved their fleet as well.
That said, once again, the final date has been postponed previously, so the story isn't over yet until it's done. Earlier, the MiG-21s were supposed to withdraw from service in 2019, then in 2023. Therefore, when another delay was suggested in 2024 citing the stalemate in the development of a national fighter, the Tejas program, it didn't come as a surprise.
Lastly, it is worth noting that the announcement regarding retirement of last Indian MiG-21 was made amid a growing capability gap concern: the country's air force today is numerically the smallest since the 1960s, with only 29 squadrons available, compared to the established norm of 42.
Read more: russia Wants to Sell India Localized T-14 Armata Tanks and That's a Reason for Concern
