On September 26th, 2025, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will officially retire the last of its MiG-21 fighters, ending an extraordinary 62-year journey that made this aircraft a legend in military aviation. But this isn’t just another retirement story. The MiG-21, nicknamed “Flying Thunder”, holds a singular distinction — it is the only fighter aircraft in history to have shot down enemy planes across four generations of fighter technology.
The Dawn of Supersonic Power
The story begins in 1963, a turbulent time for India’s air defense. After the 1962 war with China, the IAF’s fleet was outdated while neighboring Pakistan had F-86 Sabres and was soon to acquire F-104 Starfighters. India urgently needed to modernize, and the Soviet Union offered a solution — the MiG-21, along with technology transfer and local production rights.
In March 1963, Wing Commander Dilbagh Singh took command of Squadron No. 28, the “First Supersonics,” at Chandigarh Air Base. By April, the first batch of MiG-21 F-13s arrived, making India officially supersonic. Training had already begun months earlier in Kazakhstan on MiG-15s and MiG-17s, preparing pilots for this technological leap.
Technical Marvel of Its Time
The MiG-21bis could reach Mach 2.05, climb at 225 meters per second, and hit altitudes of 58,000 feet in just over four minutes. Its narrow fuselage earned it the nickname “Ołówek” — the Polish word for pencil. Compact yet powerful, it was capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear payloads, making it a versatile weapon for its era.
Combat Legacy
The MiG-21 first tasted combat in the 1965 Indo-Pak War, but limitations in armament kept it from achieving early victories. Lessons learned led to upgrades like the MiG-21FL and MiG-21M, along with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) license production, eventually producing 657 aircraft across multiple variants.
Its defining moment came in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, when MiG-21s struck strategic targets in Dhaka, contributing to Pakistan’s surrender. Over decades, the MiG-21 earned a unique combat record, downing enemy fighters ranging from F-86 Sabres to F-16s in 2019 — an unprecedented span across four generations of aircraft.
The Dark Side: “Flying Coffin”
The MiG-21 wasn’t without risk. Over 490 crashes claimed the lives of more than 170 pilots and 60 civilians, earning it the grim nickname “Flying Coffin.” Yet, despite its high accident rate, the aircraft continued to serve, proving invaluable to India’s defense while replacement programs lagged.
A Symbolic Farewell
On August 18, 2025, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh flew a symbolic sortie in a MiG-21 alongside Squadron Leader Priya Sharma, one of the few female pilots to operate the type. Speaking afterward, he reflected:
“The MiG-21 will always be remembered. It’s a legendary platform, but the time has come to move on.”
The MiG-21 is now being replaced by the HAL Tejas Mark 1A, India’s indigenous 4.5-generation fighter.
End of an Era
As the last MiG-21s land at Chandigarh Air Base, the roar of a fighter that defended India’s skies for more than six decades will fade. From Himalayan heights to desert plains, from the jungles of East Pakistan to the Line of Control, the MiG-21 “Flying Thunder” has left an indelible mark on Indian aviation history — a testament to resilience, skill, and enduring legacy.
