On the eve of October 31, 2023, the Indian Air Force bid farewell to the MiG-21 Bison aircraft, a machine that has served as the backbone of India’s aerial combat force for nearly six decades. In a symbolic gesture of transition and modernization, the aircraft from the No. 4 squadron, affectionately known as the “OORIALS,” took to the skies one last time in the Barmer district of Rajasthan, sharing airspace with the more modern Su-30 MKI. This historic event not only marked the end of an era but signified the ongoing evolution within the IAF as it progresses towards operating a more contemporary fleet, characterized by indigenous production and advanced technological capabilities.
The MiG-21 Bison’s retirement ceremony was a somber occasion, steeped in the nostalgia of a storied past and the anticipation of a future shaped by homegrown innovation. Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhary outlined the IAF’s plan to completely retire all MiG-21s by 2024, heralding the arrival of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark-1A as the new sentinels of India’s skies.
The storied history of the MiG-21 is marked by its pivotal contributions to India’s wartime efforts, particularly during the Indo-Pak conflicts. But this legacy is bittersweet, with the aircraft’s service history marred by a distressing number of accidents—over 400 MiG-21s have been lost, claiming the lives of around 200 pilots. The high crash rates and obsolescence of the MiG-21 raised significant safety concerns, and despite their valiant service, the need for modernization became a pressing matter for the IAF.
The MiG-21 Bison’s retirement does not come as an isolated event. The IAF has been systematically phasing out the MiG-21 squadrons, with the No. 51 Squadron, the one to which Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman belonged, being phased out a year prior. The No. 4 Squadron at Uttarlai is now transitioning to the Sukhoi-30 MKI, and the two remaining MiG-21 squadrons based in Bikaner and Suratgarh are scheduled to be phased out by 2025.
The MiG-21s have been the subject of much public discourse, with social media platforms witnessing an outpouring of emotions and reflections on the aircraft’s historical significance. One individual poignantly remarked on a platform, “MiG-21, once a formidable fighter plane in the ’70s, is retiring. It played a pivotal role during the 1971 war, bombarding many Pakistani cities. Everything has its time. Tejas will replace the MiG fleet with more advanced capabilities.”
The transition marks a notable pivot towards indigenous manufacturing, with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) delivering the first LCA Mark-1A to the IAF in February 2024, with a total of 83 jets ordered and plans to procure an additional 97. The LCA Tejas is slated to replace the MiG-21s, with HAL having the capacity to produce 16 LCA Mark-1As annually in Bengaluru, and an additional production line in Nashik to ramp up production to a total of 24 jets a year.
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