The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday bid an emotional farewell to the legendary MiG-21 fighter aircraft, marking the end of an era in Indian aviation history. Chandigarh, where the first MiG-21 squadron was commissioned in 1963, hosted the ceremony, filled with nostalgia and pride.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the retirement event as chief guest, joined by Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Naval Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, and Air Force leadership. Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh himself flew the final sortie with the call sign “Badal 3,” underscoring the symbolic significance of the moment.
The MiG-21, inducted into the IAF nearly six decades ago, played a decisive role in multiple conflicts, including the 1965 and 1971 wars, the 1999 Kargil conflict, and the 2019 Balakot airstrike, when it famously downed a Pakistani F-16. Over the years, the aircraft became synonymous with India’s air power, training generations of fighter pilots and cementing its place in both military history and popular culture.
Friday’s farewell featured two ceremonial flypast formations, named “Badal” and “Panther.” Squadron Leader Priya Sharma, one of the few women to have flown the MiG-21, joined the flypast after participating in the dress rehearsal earlier this week. The six jets of Number 23 Squadron received a water cannon salute upon landing, providing a fitting tribute to the aircraft’s final chapter.
Commissioned in Chandigarh in 1963 with modest beginnings from just three tents, the MiG-21 soon rose to become the backbone of India’s fighter fleet. Its piercing roar not only symbolized the nation’s growing air prowess but also became a part of collective memory, immortalized in films and countless stories of courage.
The retirement drew former MiG-21 pilots back together, many sharing personal recollections of the aircraft that defined their careers. Officials described the day as an “emotional chapter” in the IAF’s journey, with the MiG-21 leaving behind a legacy of valour and unmatched service.
As the IAF turns the page, the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas will take over, symbolizing a new era of self-reliance in India’s defence aviation. Yet, for many, the departure of the MiG-21 is not just a transition of fleets but the end of a storied chapter that shaped the nation’s air dominance.
For the skies over Chandigarh, the farewell was more than a ceremony, it was a salute to an aircraft that protected the nation for nearly six decades and a reminder of the sacrifices of those who flew it.
