Indian Air Force Bids Farewell to Legendary MiG-21 Jets After 63 Years
Decommissioning Ceremony in Chandigarh Marks the End of an Era in IAF’s Jet Age
Chandigarh: An era in the Indian Air Force (IAF) comes to a close as the iconic MiG-21 fighter jets are officially retired today. First inducted in 1963, these Russian-origin jets ushered in the jet age for the IAF and have now served the nation for 63 years.
The decommissioning ceremony at Chandigarh Air Force Station is being attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh alongside senior Air Force officials. As a tribute, the MiG-21s took to the skies one final time, flying in the iconic Vic formation. Air Chief Marshal AP Singh flew one of the last sorties under the call sign ‘Badal 3’.
The retiring jets belong to the 23 Squadron, famously known as the “Panthers,” which has been a cornerstone of the IAF’s fighter fleet for decades. Today’s ceremony not only marks the culmination of the MiG-21’s operational journey but also celebrates its enduring legacy in India’s aviation history.
