📍Chandigarh | 26 Sep, 2025, 11:41 PM
MiG-21 retirement: Indian Air Force’s oldest and trusted fighter aircraft MiG-21 now recorded in the pages of history. This aircraft that raises the glory of Indian tringe in the sky for 62 years was formally farewell on Friday. On this occasion, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid tribute to it as "Bird of All Seasons" and said it elevated the head of Indian Air Force in every role and prepared the pilots of generations.
MiG-21 The last generation of Bison was given the last farewell on 28 squadron on the Chandigarh Airbase. Rajnath Singh in the Vidai ceremony of Mig-21 said in passionate words that the pilots of the generations plunged on Mig-21 learned flight, winning in difficult situations. He said that this was the platform that guided the Indian Air Force strategy for decades. "Mig-21 was not only an aircraft, but also a symbol of courage, discipline and patriotism. This aircraft inspired us to become self-sufficient and today we are moving towards indigenous aircraft like LCA Tejas and AMCA. ""
Defence Minister said, There is any historical mission, every time Mig-21 honoured tringe. So this farewell is also of our collective memories, is also of our national pride, and also of the journey, in which the story of courage, sacrifice and excellence is written
MiG-21 The story of the Indian Air Force in 1963 starts from joining it. India periodically upgraded this aircraft of the Soviet origin and the last variant was known as Mig-21 Bison. It is included in the most created fighter planes in the world. About 11,500 Mig-21 were prepared, about 850 of which served India’s Air Force.
The Minister of Defence Rajnath said, Mig-21 in a 62-year long journey showed its strength in almost every major war and campaign in India. In 1971’s India-Pak War, it attacked Dhaka’s governor house and ensured India’s victory. In Cargill War 1999 it used for precise attacks on enemy checkpoints in the inaccessible hillsides. Balakot Airstrike was also present in 2019, when the Wing Commander Abhinandan Worthman killed the F-16 of Pakistan from the same aircraft and took history. This aircraft was also deployed on the advance front in the recent operation centre 2025, where it gave air edge to Indian pilots.
during this period MiG-21 Also upgraded continuously. The Defence Minister cleaned the ceremony that the aircraft remained in service were maximum 40 years old, which is normal age as per international standards. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited equipped it with capabilities such as modern radar, avionics and Beyond Visual Range Missile to maintain technically relevant. These upgrades were called "Bison". While Mig-21 has been entrusted with several names in Indian Air Force, Trishul, Vikram, Cloud and Bison. Every name says a new story of its capabilities and changes.
रक्षा मंत्री राजनाथ सिंह ने कहा, भारतीय वायुसेना के लिए यह विमान केवल एक फाइटर जेट नहीं बल्कि “ट्रेनिंग स्कूल” था, जिसने हजारों पायलटों को तैयार किया। और इस जहाज ट्रेनिंग लेकर बाद में सुखोई-30I और राफेल जैसे आधुनिक विमानों को उड़ाने में भी सक्षम बने। राजनाथ सिंह ने कहा कि आज हमारे जो भी कुशल पायलट हैं, उनकी नींव मिग-21 पर रखी गई थी। यही वजह है कि यह विमान भारतीय वायुसेना के इतिहास में अमर रहेगा।
शुक्रवार को जब MiG-21 ने अपनी आखिरी ऑपरेशनल उड़ान भरी, तो भारतीय वायुसेना का एक सुनहरा अध्याय समाप्त हो गया। विदाई समारोह में वायुसेना के वरिष्ठ अधिकारी, पूर्व पायलट और एचएएल के इंजीनियर मौजूद थे, जिन्होंने इस एतिहासिक पल को अपनी आंखों से देखा।
एचएएल की भूमिका को भी विशेष रूप से सराहा गया। लगातार मरम्मत और अपग्रेड की वजह से यह विमान छह दशक तक हवा में मजबूती से खड़ा रहा। राजनाथ सिंह ने एचएएल के इंजीनियरों और वैज्ञानिकों की मेहनत को सलाम करते हुए कहा कि उनकी कोशिशों ने ही इस विमान को इतना लंबा जीवन दिया।
विदाई के इस मौके पर राजनाथ सिंह ने कहा कि इस विमान को अलविदा कहना केवल एक सैन्य परंपरा नहीं है, बल्कि यह भारत की सभ्यता और विरासत का हिस्सा है। मिग-21 अब भले ही सक्रिय सेवा से बाहर हो गया हो, लेकिन इसके साहस और योगदान की गूंज आने वाली पीढ़ियों तक सुनाई देती रहेगी।
