After more than six decades of service, the Indian Air Force on Friday bid farewell to its iconic MiG-21 fighter jet. The supersonic aircraft, which played a defining role in India’s aerial battles since its induction in 1963, made its final flight during a decommissioning ceremony at Chandigarh Air Force Station. The event was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh along with the three service chiefs and senior military officials. For the IAF, it was not just the end of a machine’s service life but the closure of a generation that had grown up with the sound of the MiG roaring in the skies.

A Warhorse That Defined Air Power

The MiG-21 was inducted in 1963 under the command of Dilbagh Singh, who later rose to become Air Chief Marshal. Designed by the Soviet Union’s Mikoyan-Gurevich bureau, the jet was the country’s first supersonic fighter and interceptor, offering the IAF unmatched speed and agility in its formative years of modern warfare. Over 870 MiG-21s were procured in different variants, making it the backbone of India’s fighter fleet for more than three decades.

The aircraft saw extensive action in the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan, where it provided the IAF with a decisive edge. In Kargil in 1999, it was deployed for frontline ground strike missions amid high altitude challenges, once again proving its combat worth. More recently, the MiG-21 was part of the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, where it came into the spotlight in the clash between India and Pakistan. Despite being labelled by many as outdated, the aircraft continued to deliver until the very end.

Yet the MiG-21’s long history also carried shadows. Its high accident rate led to the jet being controversially referred to as a “flying coffin.” However, veterans and commanders who flew it insist that the machine always rewarded precision and discipline, and that its reputation was unfairly tarnished.

Farewell Ceremony in Chandigarh

The decommissioning ceremony at Chandigarh was both sombre and proud in equal measure. The city holds special significance in the MiG’s journey as it was the very place where the aircraft was first inducted in 1963. On Friday, it returned for its final bow.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called the MiG-21 “a symbol of India’s resolve to defend its skies with courage and skill.” Senior officers, including Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, were present to witness the farewell. In a social media post ahead of the ceremony, the IAF said, “Six decades of service, countless tales of courage, a warhorse that carried pride of a nation into the skies.”

The farewell was more than a routine retirement. It represented the conclusion of a long partnership between a machine and the men who trusted their lives with it. As the MiG lifted into the skies one last time, applause and emotion mixed on the ground, underscoring its place in India’s military history.

Pilots Remember A Beloved Machine

For those who flew the MiG-21, the farewell was deeply personal. Wing Commander Avinash Chikte (Retd), who logged over 2,250 flying hours on the aircraft, described it as a “majestic and dazzling beauty.” Looking back on his first experience in 1982, he recalled the jet gleaming in the sun, its symmetrical design giving it an elegance that left many pilots spellbound.

Chikte, like many others, referred to the jet as a “she” and spoke of it as a partner. “She is like a mother, a friend, a guide – the one who stays with you through storms and dangers, and brings you home safe,” he said in an interview. Yet he also warned that the MiG-21 demanded respect and technical refinement. At low speeds its razor-thin wings required high precision, but once at full thrust the aircraft transformed to become agile and alive, offering a thrilling flying experience.

For Chikte and fellow veterans, the relationship with the MiG was one of love, trust and shared danger. Signing off his tribute with the Russian word “Dasvidaniya” meaning until we meet again, he reflected on the bond between pilot and machine that transcended metal and engine. “My MiG and I, together we shall fly, even after the final goodbye,” he said.

The MiG-21 may no longer roar through Indian skies, but its legend will endure. A warrior, an icon, a symbol of courage, it leaves behind a legacy that will remain etched in the proud history of the Indian Air Force.

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