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Mig-21 Bison

IAF To Phase Out MiG-21 Bison Fleet In September; Tejas Mk-1A To Replace Legacy Fighters: Reports

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Sumit Sharma
in

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to phase out Russian-made MiG-21 Bison fighter jets by September this year after over six decades of service, claimed media reports citing sources. The MiG-21 squadrons will reportedly be replaced by indigenously built Tejas Mk-1A.

The MiG-21 fleet is set to retire in a ceremonial decommissioning on September 19 at the Chandigarh airbase, reported The Indian Express. The aircraft are single-engine, single-seater, multi-role fighter/ground attack jets. They were first inducted into the IAF in 1963. So far, India has procured over 700 MiG-21 aircraft of different variants since its induction.

The IAF is currently using the latest version of the aircraft — MiG-21 Bison. They were upgraded to MiG-21 Bison in 2006. These aircraft are equipped with advanced missiles, radars, and avionics.

At present, over 100 MiG Bisons are currently in service, reported the media house. After the phasing out of the MiG-21, the squadron strength of the IAF will reportedly drop to 28 — even lower than what the force had during the 1965 war.

The fighter jet has been a mainstay of the force in several key conflicts, including the 1971 war against Pakistan and during the 1999 Kargil War. In 2019, IAF Wing Commander (now Group Captain) Abhinandan Varthaman shot down Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jet.

However, due to the rising incidents of crashes in later years of service, the aircraft came to be known as “flying coffins.” Over 500 MiG-21s have crashed in the last 60 years, killing over 170 pilots, reported The Indian Express, quoting government data. Notably, over 20 MiG-21s have crashed since 2010.

In September 2022, the Srinagar-based No. 51 Squadron was number-plated.

When was the first MiG-21 inducted into the IAF?
The first MiG-21 was inducted into the IAF in 1963, after India felt the need for a supersonic advanced aircraft following the 1962 war with China. The aircraft was inducted at a time when the United States had supplied the F-104 Starfighter to Pakistan. For the unversed, the F-104 Starfighter was the most advanced fighter jet at that time.

Fighter Jets Currently in Service in the IAF:

  • Rafale
  • Su-30 MKI
  • LCA Tejas
  • Mirage 2000
  • MiG-29 UPG
  • Jaguar

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