India bids farewell to MiG-21, welcomes Tejas as the new guardian of the skies

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): After nearly six decades of service, the legendary MiG-21 fighter jet, often dubbed the “Falcon of the Skies,” has officially retired from the Indian Air Force (IAF). The historic moment was marked with a ceremonial send-off in Chandigarh, where Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh personally flew the MiG-21 in a symbolic ‘Badal’ formation.

Inducted into the IAF fleet in 1963, the Russian-built MiG-21 became renowned for its Mach-2 speed and precision strike capability. It played a vital role in several wars, including shooting down Pakistan’s advanced F-16 in 2019, cementing its legacy as a reliable war machine.

With its retirement, the Air Force’s squadron strength will temporarily dip, but India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas is ready to take over. After the induction of the “Flying Daggers” and “Flying Bullets” squadrons, a third squadron named “Cobra” will soon join the IAF, strategically deployed at a Rajasthan airbase to strengthen operational readiness along the western front.

Meanwhile, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is set to roll out the first advanced Tejas Mk1A fighter jet from its Nashik facility next month. Equipped with superior radar, electronic warfare systems, and advanced combat capabilities, the Mk1A variant is expected to modernize the IAF while boosting India’s defense self-reliance and reducing dependence on foreign platforms.