After the MiG-21: An urgent call for India’s next-gen jets

THE MiG-21’s final flight over Chandigarh on September 26 symbolised more than the retirement of an aircraft; it marked a transition in how India must think about air power. For decades, this Soviet-era fighter was more than a machine — it was a statement of intent by a young nation eager to secure its skies. Its endurance reflected India’s ability to stretch limited resources, but also the tendency to delay modernisation until crises forced change. The MiG’s twilight years exposed those vulnerabilities. The jet’s longevity became its weakness. Over 300 crashes and repeated technical snags turned it into the dreaded ‘flying coffin’. Though poor training and overstretched airframes often explained the accidents, the risks became unsustainable. These were indicators of an overreliance on imported platforms without sufficient investment in indigenous development.

The farewell ceremony highlighted both continuity and change. Air Chief Marshal AP Singh flew the last sortie, joined by Squadron Leader Priya Sharma, representing the generational and gender shifts within the IAF. The formation flypast featuring Tejas jets and Jaguars was a reminder that symbolism must quickly translate into operational readiness.

The lesson from the MiG’s journey is clear: India must not delay modernisation. India’s security in the decades ahead will depend on how quickly it can build, deploy and sustain its own fighters. The Rs 624-billion Tejas Mk-1A order is a step forward, but the gap left by the MiG is not easy to fill. Though the Tejas Mk-2, AMCA and TEDBF projects hold promise, delays, supply issues and technological dependencies remain key risks, which is strategically not comforting. With neighbours modernising aggressively, our air power cannot afford to be reactive. As geopolitical pressures mount along multiple borders, having a powerful air force isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.