Warbird MiG-21 flies into history

CHANDIGARH: MiG-21, the mighty warbird that patrolled India's skies for implicit six decades, took disconnected connected its last formation connected Friday from Chandigarh, the precise spot it had archetypal touched down successful 1963.Defence curate Rajnath Singh, who presided implicit the decommissioning ceremony, said MiG-21 not lone marked a transformative section successful India's aerial power, but besides stood arsenic a almighty awesome of the enduring and strategical concern betwixt India and Russia.Referring to the MiG-21 arsenic a "bird for each seasons", Rajnath said it redefined India's combat capabilities and stood arsenic a awesome of spot and valour for equipped forces successful each wars.Addressing a gathering of the country's apical subject commanders and aerial warriors, Rajnath said helium was filled with "gaurav (pride) and kritagyata (gratitude)" arsenic the federation prepared to "close a historical section that would beryllium remembered successful aureate letters"."MiG-21 established India's aerial powerfulness connected the planetary stage," helium said, pointing retired that it excelled successful aggregate roles. "As an interceptor, it stopped the enemy.

In ground-attack roles, it showed aggression. In aerial defence, it protected our skies. And arsenic a trainer, it shaped generations of aerial warriors. That is the quality of MiG-21." He highlighted the bequest of MiG-21, describing it arsenic among astir important combatant craft successful subject history. "No different craft has been manufactured successful specified ample numbers. Total 11,500 MiGs were built, of which 850 were inducted into the IAF," helium said.