MiG-21 shining example of deep relations between India, Russia: Rajnath

In the backdrop of Russia making a pitch for manufacturing the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter in India, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday that the MiG-21 fighter, which finally retired today, was not just an aircraft or a machine but a powerful example of the deep relations between India and Russia.Speaking at a ceremony held at the Chandigarh Air Force Station to mark the culmination of the operational flying by MiG-21 after serving for 62 years, the Defence Minister said that the aircraft was a mighty machine, national pride and a defence shield that shaped the nation’s confidence and inspired generations of air warriors.

“The MiG-21 performed far better than the expectations of both the sellers and buyers The design on which this jet was built in the 1950s was the best according to the technology of that time. Over time, state-of-the-art systems were added to it. This is the reason why MiG-21 continued to earn the trust and respect of our air force for such a long time,” he said.

He pointed out that while the MiG-21’s journey began in 1963, the aircraft that were inducted in the 1960s and 1970s have long been retired from service and the MiG-21s that were flying until now were at least 40 years old — completely normal by the standards of such aircraft: "In many countries, such fighter jets are kept active for just that much time. But a special thing about MiG-21 is that it has been kept technically updated all the time,” he said.

The Defence Minister said that as an interceptor, MiG-21 served to stop the enemy. In the ground attack, it demonstrated its aggressive capability. As an air defence fighter, it protected the skies and also trained countless air warriors as a trainer aircraft.

“The point is that with every flight, the MiG-21 has further strengthened India's future: The highly skilled fighter pilots of today owe their foundation, in some way, to MiG-21. This is why the MiG-21 has always stood by us like a charioteer in India's security journey. “MiG-21 has taught us not to fear change, but to harness new energy from it and move forward,” he added.

Stating that the chapter of MiG-21 in the history of the Indian Air Force will be written in letters of gold, Rajnath said that as we bid farewell to this glorious chapter, it is also a tribute to the countless heroes whose sacrifices have made this machine a living legacy. “Their contribution will forever remain immortal in our memory,” he said.

“We are also taking this assurance that in the coming tomorrow, our new generation will take defence manufacturing and air power to even greater heights with the same spirit. I am confident that in the times to come, when the world looks at India, it will say this is the country that started with MiG-21 and today is the leader of the world in future technology,” Rajnath said.

“We must not allow this legacy to break. The contribution of MiG-21 is not just history, it is a lesson, it is DNA, which will take us forward. We must consider the success of LCA-Tejas as the beginning of our next mission; and infuse this confidence into the upcoming fighter aircraft, Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft and other programmes that India can overcome every challenge,” he added.

MiG-21 was inducted into the IAF at Chandigarh in 1963 with No.28 Squadron, the First Supersonics, then commanded by Wg Cdr Dilbagh Singh who later rose to become Chief of the Air Staff.

The last operational sortie today was by the present Air Chief, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, with the call sign Badal-3, who was joined in the final flypast by pilots of No.23 Squadron, the Panthers, the last unit operating the MiG-21.

Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Anil Chauhan, Chief of Navy Staff, Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, several former Air Chief, including Air Chief Marshals AY Tipniis, S Krishnaswamy, SP Tyagi and BS Dhanoa, as well as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station, were among a large number of serving and retired officers associated with MiG-21 to be present.

Gp Capt Shukla has been a MiG-21 pilot and has flown various variants of the fighter before converting to other aircraft.

MiG-21 was the first supersonic fighter inducted into the IAF, and over 870 were procured, with many being manufactured locally by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. They formed the backbone of the IAF combat fleet for decades and played critical roles in the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan, the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Balakot airstrike. MiG-21s are being replaced by the indigenous Tejas.