Fri Sep 26 03:28:44 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**Indian Air Force Bids Farewell to Iconic MiG-21 After Over Six Decades of Service**

**Chandigarh, India – September 26, 2025** – The Indian Air Force (IAF) today officially decommissioned its legendary MiG-21 fighter aircraft in a moving ceremony held in Chandigarh. The event marked the end of an era for the supersonic jet, which served as the IAF’s first of its kind beginning in the early 1960s. The MiG-21 helped catapult India into the jet age.

The decommissioning ceremony was attended by six former IAF chiefs, including Air Chief Marshal A. Y. Tipnis (retd), who fondly reminisced about the challenges and triumphs associated with the Soviet-era aircraft. In a recorded video podcast shared by the IAF, Mr. Tipnis highlighted the MiG-21’s role in fostering innovation and adaptability within the force. He humorously recalled initial difficulties such as the lack of trainers, simulators, and instruction manuals written in Russian.

The MiG-21’s legacy is intertwined with numerous conflicts, including the wars of 1965 and 1971, the 1999 Kargil conflict, and the 2019 Balakot strike. Former IAF pilots have also praised the MiG-21 for its role in the development of generations of fighter pilots. Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (retd) quoted the late veteran air warrior P. C. Lal, later IAF chief, who had said, The MiG-21 gave the IAF wings, it never had before.

While the MiG-21 has been involved in crashes throughout its service, veterans defended the aircraft’s contributions and emphasized its importance to Indian air power. The final MiG-21 jets, belonging to Squadron No. 23, nicknamed Panthers, received a symbolic farewell during the ceremony.

As the last of these machines fly into the sunset, the IAF reflects on the enduring legacy of the MiG-21 and its pivotal role in shaping India’s aerial capabilities.

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