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The Indian Air Force (IAF) witness the final touchdown of the iconic MiG-21 on the tarmac at Chandigarh, marking the end of its 62-year legacy in Indian skies. The Russian-origin fighter jet, which first took flight in India in 1963, will be decommissioned in a grand ceremony at the Chandigarh Air Force Station, the same location where its storied journey began. 

The event, celebrating the aircraft’s enduring contributions to India’s military history, will feature a spectacular flypast with a unique multi-aircraft formation, simulated dogfights, and skydiving displays.

The MiG-21, India’s first supersonic fighter and interceptor aircraft, revolutionised the IAF in the early 1960s, ushering the force into the jet age. As it roars through the skies for the last time, the aircraft leaves behind a legacy of defining moments in India’s defence operations, having played a pivotal role in the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars, the 1999 Kargil conflict, and the 2019 Balakot airstrike. 

 

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The decommissioning ceremony will be attended by six former IAF chiefs—Air Chief Marshal AY Tipnis (retd), S Krishnaswamy, SP Tyagi, PV Naik, BS Dhanoa, and RKS Bhadauria—highlighting the aircraft’s profound impact on generations of air warriors.

Nostalgic Reflections from Veterans

Veteran pilot and former IAF chief Air Chief Marshal AY Tipnis (retd), who served as Chief of the Air Staff from December 1998 to December 2001, shared his reflections in a recorded video podcast posted by the IAF on X on September 25. Tipnis, who began his career as a fighter pilot in 1960 and later commanded No. 23 Squadron equipped with MiG-21 Bis aircraft in July 1977, described the challenges faced during the aircraft’s early days. 

He recalled, “When the MiG-21 came to us, the first type that came to us was the Type-74, there were no trainers at that time. The first solo was on MiG-21 itself. The difficulty was that not only was there no trainer or simulator, but also in the entire cockpit, nothing was written in English; it was all in Russian.”

 

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Tipnis highlighted the steep learning curve, noting that the speed measurement unit shifted from “knots to km/hr,” posing an additional challenge for pilots accustomed to knots. “So, in the first solo, you are mostly lost, until you came back, and didn’t know how to manage it,” he said. He also shared a vivid memory of the early days, stating, “In MiG-21, we were all flying in spacesuits, believe it or not.” He compared the gear to that worn by astronaut Yuri Gagarin, adding, “We could hardly move our neck from one side to another.”

Tipnis praised the MiG-21’s transformative impact, stating that it “taught us how to be innovative and produce results.” He noted its adaptability, saying, “By no means, the MiG-21 is designed for low-flying, because the visibility forward and sideward is limited. The IAF, the way it adapted to low-level flying at night, was a remarkable achievement. The adaptation for this purpose was outstanding.” As Chief of the Air Staff in 1999, Tipnis oversaw Operation Safed Sagar during the Kargil conflict, where the MiG-21 played a critical role.

 

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Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (retd) echoed these sentiments in the podcast, describing the MiG-21 as the “backbone of the IAF” for over six decades and “an icon, a trusted companion in war and peace, and a proving ground for generations of fighter pilots.” He quoted the late IAF chief PC Lal, who said, “The MiG-21 gave the IAF wings, it never had before.”

Despite its storied service, the MiG-21 has been associated with numerous crashes and loss of lives, leading some to controversially label it a “flying coffin.” A former IAF pilot, who preferred anonymity, criticised the term, stating, “It also hits the morale of family members of pilots if such terms are used to describe an aircraft they may be flying.” The pilot emphasised the aircraft’s combat legacy, noting its contributions in multiple conflicts, including the 1965 and 1971 wars, the Kargil conflict, and the Balakot strike.

 

Also Read: MiG-21 makes final sorties at Nal, farewell ceremony on Sept 26

 

The last MiG-21 jets, operated by No. 23 Squadron, nicknamed the “Panthers,” will be honoured at the Chandigarh ceremony. On August 18-19, 2025, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh flew solo sorties in a MiG-21 from Nal air base, marking an emotional milestone for the force. 

Group Captain Nanda Rajender, Commanding Officer of No. 23 Squadron, reflected on the aircraft’s legacy, stating, “From being the most advanced fighter in the 1965 war and 1971 war, it has been in the vanguard of all military actions by India. Even during Operation Sindoor, it was a legacy fighter; however, it was tasked for ORP [Operational Readiness Platform] duties, and we were ready to defend the skies if the demand was raised.”

As the MiG-21 flies into the sunset, it leaves behind a legacy of resilience, adaptability, and innovation. Veterans and current air warriors agree that these jets “defined generations of pilots,” shaping the IAF’s operational prowess and cementing their place in India’s military history. The decommissioning ceremony will not only celebrate the aircraft’s contributions but also mark a transition to newer, more advanced platforms as the IAF continues to modernise.

 

Also Read: Air Chief Marshal AP Singh to lead MiG‑21 farewell flypast