India retires MiG-21 fighter jet after 60 years

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will officially retire the legendary MiG-21 fighter jet on September 26, marking the end of more than six decades of service. 

Leading the final flight will be Squadron Leader Priya Sharma, who will make history as the last woman to pilot the MiG-21. Sharma, commissioned in December 2018 as one of India’s first female fighter pilots, is the only woman among 35 fighter pilots in her batch. A native of Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan, she has been a trailblazer for women in the Indian Air Force, Caliber.Az reports per Indian media. 

On September 23, Sharma joined five other MiG-21 pilots in a full-dress rehearsal for the farewell event. During the official ceremony, she will take to the skies alongside Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari in a final flight formation. The duo had previously flown together in August during the MiG-21’s last operational mission, held at the Bikaner Air Force Station in western India.

The formal de-induction ceremony will take place at the Air Force Station in Chandigarh, the same location where the first batch of MiG-21s arrived from the Soviet Union in April 1963. That delivery was led by then Wing Commander Dilbagh Singh, who later became the Chief of Air Staff.

Six MiG-21s from the No. 23 Squadron, nicknamed the "Panthers", will take part in the ceremonial flypast before receiving a traditional water cannon salute, symbolising their retirement from active duty.

Once the backbone of India's air defence, the MiG-21 was the IAF’s first supersonic jet and served in multiple wars and missions since its induction in the early 1960s.

By Sabina Mammadli