IAF's iconic MiG-21 jets to bow out on September 26

NEW DELHI: After six decades of service, the Indian Air Force’s iconic MiG-21 combatant jets volition officially bow retired connected September 26, closing a defining section successful India’s aerial power. The past remaining MiG-21s, flown by No. 23 Squadron “Panthers,” volition beryllium formally retired astatine a decommissioning ceremonial and ceremonial flypast astatine the Chandigarh Air Force Station — the precise basal wherever the craft was archetypal inducted successful 1963. A full-dress rehearsal was held connected Wednesday. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan, Army Chief Gen. Upendra Dwivedi, Air Chief Marshal A.

P. Singh and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi are expected to be Friday’s event. The MiG-21, a Russian-origin fighter, was erstwhile the backbone of the IAF’s combat fleet. More than 870 were inducted implicit the decades, dominating the skies during the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan, playing a important relation successful the 1999 Kargil struggle and participating successful the 2019 Balakot airstrikes. Last month, the MiG-21s made their last operational flights from Rajasthan’s Nal Air Force Station up of this week’s farewell, which marks the extremity of an epoch for India’s astir storied combatant jet.