From Crown Jewel To Flying Coffin: IAF To Phase Out Iconic Mig-21 Fighter Jets After 62 Years

After 62 years of service, the MiG-21 fighter jet is ready for its final take-off from the Indian Air Force. The farewell will be held on 19 September at the Chandigarh airbase, marking the end of an era for No. 23 Squadron, the Panthers. Introduced in 1963, the MiG-21 was India’s first supersonic fighter and gave the IAF a strategic edge through the 1960s and 1970s. It played a crucial role in every major conflict since 1965, including the 1971 Bangladesh war, the 1999 Kargil conflict, and 2019 Balakot airstrikes. Despite earning the nickname “flying coffin” due to aging airframes and accidents, the jet remained in service because of delays in modern replacements. Nearly 600 MiG-21s were built in India, making it the largest fighter fleet in the country’s history.#mig21 #farewell #indianairforce #iaflegacy #flyingcoffin #tejaslca #militaryaviation #indiandefence #airpower #fighterjetretirement #pantherssquadron #toi #toibharat