Context: After protecting the skies for more than six decades, the MiG-21 Bison fighter jets of the Indian Air Force are set to retire in September 2025. The plans are to replace them with indigenously developed Tejas Mk1A fighter aircraft.
Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about MiG-21 Fighter Jets.
MiG-21 Fighter Jets: India’s First Supersonic Fighter
- MiG-21 is a single-engine supersonic jet fighter and interceptor aircraft.
- Developed by: Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the former Soviet Union.
- Induction: First procured in 1963 into the Indian Air Force (IAF). They formed the backbone of the Air Force till the mid-2000s, when the Su-30MKIs were inducted.
- Initially developed as an interceptor, the supersonic jet was eventually upgraded to perform as a multi-role combat aircraft, including ground attacks.
- With a maximum speed of 2230 kilometres per hour, the jet carries one 23mm twin-barrel cannon with four R-60 close combat missiles.
- Key Role: They have played key roles in the wars with Pakistan (1965 and 1971), Kargil War (1999), Balakot air strikes (2019), and the most-recent Operation Sindoor (2025).
Variants of MiG-21 Fighter Jets:
- Over the years, India procured more than 700 MiG-21 aircraft of different variants. Many were domestically built by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. They include- Type 74 or MiG 21F; Type 76 or MiG 21PF; Type 77 or MiG 21FL; Type 96 or MiG 21M; Type 75 or MiG 21 Bis (upgraded Type 96); and MiG-21 Bison.
MiG-21 Fighter Jets to Retire
- The Air Force currently has two MiG-21 squadrons, or 36 aircrafts, that are operated by the squadrons stationed at the Nal airbase in Rajasthan.
- Indian Air Force (IAF) has 31 fighter squadrons as against the sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons. It is significantly below the optimal readiness requirements.
- The phase out of two MIG-21 squadrons has been long extended due to the delayed deliveries of LCA-Mk1A (Tejas fighter aircraft). After the phased out, the combat strength of the Air Force will drop to 29 squadrons.
Controversy:
- The MiG-21 aircrafts have been involved in several accidents, leading to the deaths of 170 pilots and 40 civilians. They were once termed “Flying Coffin”.
Also Read: Race for Fighters: the IAF’s dilemma