Mig 21 retirement: On 26 September 2025, the Indian Air Force’s oldest fighter aircraft MIG-21 retired from Air Force fleet forever. After 62 years of long service, this aircraft has now been recorded in history. Its last flight took place from Chandigarh Airbase, where the Air Force Chief and several senior officials gave it a salute.

MIG-21 was not only the backbone of the Indian Air Force, but due to its high speed and brilliant performance in the war, it was considered the most trusted aircraft of the Air Force for decades. However, over time, this aircraft also became a victim of many accidents and also came to be called by names like ‘Udta Coffin’ and ‘Widow Maker’. In such a situation, let us know how many crashes were made from MiG-21 and how many pilots gave martyrdom.

How many crashes were made from MiG-21 and how many pilots martyred

MIG-21 was first inducted into the Air Force in India in 1963. This was India’s first supersonic fighter jet, which could fly a loud flying even more. Its maximum speed was 2,230 km per hour. The history of its accidents as well as its accidents has been very long along with the strength and bravery of MIG-21. In total, around 900 MIG-21 aircraft were bought by India, out of which more than 400 have been crashed. More than 200 pilots have been martyred in these accidents. Apart from this, many common citizens and military personnel have also died. Therefore, over time it was called flying coffin and widow maker.

MIG-21 history related to Indian Air Force

In 1961, there was an agreement between India and Russia on the MIG-21 aircraft. In 1963, its first two squadrons were included in the Air Force. After this, from 1967, it started to be assembled through HAL in India itself. With this, in 1965, MIG-21 participated in the war for the first time. It competed with many American F-104 fighter jets of Pakistan. The 1971 war proved to be a game changer for MIG-21. It demolished many airbase of Pakistan. 1999, Mig-21 successfully attacked enemies locations in inaccessible hills even in the Kargil War. Group Captain Abhinandan Vardhman killed F-16 of Pakistan while flying from MIG-21 Bison. Apart from this, Mig-21 was also fully kept on alert in Operation Sindoor and the terrorists’ hideouts were targeted in it.

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MiG-21, the oldest and brave warrior of the Indian Air Force, is formally retiring next month. This fighter aircraft, which protected the sky for about six decades, was once called the “backbone of the Air Force”. MiG-21 waved India’s victory in many important campaigns from the 1971 war. But increasing technical challenges and accidents have put a complete stop on its journey. Now this aircraft will always be remembered by becoming a glorious chapter of Indian defense history. On Monday (August 25, 2025), the MiG-21 fighter jets took their final flight at the air base at Naal in Bikaner. These aircraft will be given a final farewell in the formal retirement ceremony held in Chandigarh on 26 September.

Air Force chief filled the final flight of MiG
Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh flew from Nal to MiG-21 on August 18-19 on the symbolic farewell of MiG-21. It was a passionate moment for several generations of trained pilots on a fighter aircraft of the Russian origin serving the Air Force for 62 years. Air Chief Marshal Singh said after his flight- ‘MiG-21 has been the most powerful fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force since its inception in the 1960s and we are still using it. It is one of the highest, large -scale supersonic fighter aircraft in history, with more than 11,000 aircraft used in more than 60 countries.

VIDEO | Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh Takes A Sortie in Mig-21 Aircraft in Bikaner. The IAF is all set to bid adeiu mig-21 aircraft from operation roles on September 26.#Indianairforce #mig21 pic.twitter.com/7t9nqcszk7

– Press Trust of India (@Pti_News) August 25, 2025

MiG-21 starts in India
In 1963, India won the first batch of MiG-21 aircraft. A total of 13 aircraft were brought during this period. At that time, the Air Force was looking for a high-altitude interceptor that could compete with aircraft like American U-2 spy plane. This was the reason that India bought MiG-21. MiG-21 was not limited to interceptors only. Over time its role reached ground attack, fighter reconnaissance mission, air defense and even new pilots training. However, training was not part of its original design. Initially, permission to fly MiG-21 was given only to the most experienced pilots of the Indian Air Force. The reason for this was its challenging flight capabilities. The small size of the aircraft, limited cockpit visibility and landing speed of more than 300 kilometers per hour made it extremely difficult for new pilots.

MiG-21 made historical contribution in many wars
The contribution of MiG-21 in many wars was historic. The aircraft participated in the 1965 war and played an important role in the 1971 battle on the attack on the Governor’s residence in Dhaka, especially on 14 December. The Governor resigned the next day and on 16 December, Pakistan surrendered and 93,000 of its soldiers laid down their arms. Subsequently, in 1999, under the Operation White Sea, the aircraft also showed enlightenment when MiG-21 killed a Pakistani Atlantic aircraft infiltrating Indian territory. In the 2010s, MiG-21 showed its strength when India launched accurate airstrikes on terrorist bases in Pakistan after the 2019 Pulwama terror attack. At the same time, this aircraft remained active in the 2020s and played an important role in Ladakh patrolling the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.

Air Force’s backbone remained for decades
Despite the difficulties, the MiG-21 remained the favorite aircraft of the Indian Air Force. Not only this, it remained the backbone of the Air Force until Russia-made Sukhoi SU-30MKI was included in the fleet in the mid-2000s. During the years MiG-21 was continuously upgraded to modern weapons and avionics. This made it much more than “just one fighter jet”. MiG-21 was not just a fighter jet, but it also became a symbol of strong military relations in India-Russia. This relationship also persists for decades like MiG-21 and is equally strong today.

Price of MiG-21
What was the exact price of MiG-21 in the 1960s is not clear, but this aircraft was considered very cheap due to mass production. Its cost was much lower than the western fighter jets like F-4 phantom of that time. During this period, the Israeli intelligence agency gave an Iraqi pilot 3 million dollars in lieu of its MiG-21. It is clear that at that time it was important to achieve this aircraft for testing.

The growing tension on India and Pakistan is currently controlled. The ceasefire was announced before the ongoing struggle between the two countries reached the war. In this struggle, the S-400 Air Defense System has done a defense shield from India and has given a beauty of every attack coming from Pakistan. This air defense system eliminated most of the missiles and drones coming from Pakistan. That is why it is also called Sudarshan Chakra. Now the question is that if the fighter plane flying in the range of S-400 during the war is its own, will the missile fire on it too? Let’s know

Which technology is used

Many types of technology are used to identify the flying fighter plane in the range of S-400. First technology is radar system. Any country identifies any missile and fighter jet in the country through radar system. Apart from this, through the direction, height and speed of the aircraft, it can also be identified whether it is its own or enemy country.

How IFF system works

Apart from this, aircraft are also identified through data sharing. Data is shared by the aircraft through various air defense systems during a situation like war. This data is analyzed and through this the aircraft is its own or it helps in identifying the enemy country. According to the information received from Google AI, there is an IFF which sends friendly aircraft an identification code, but if that enemy is a jet of the country then no answer is received.

How the missile is identified

Apart from this, this system uses advanced algorithms and radar signature to differentiate between friends and enemy aircraft. After this, the type of aircraft is identified through radar cross connection and other characteristics. Talking about the missile, if it is found after seeing the speed, height and direction of the missile, it is found that it is coming towards our country, then it is obvious that the enemy is the missile of the country.

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