History was once written in the defence chapter of India when the MiG-21 was first inducted in 1963, as the country’s first supersonic fighter joined the Air Force. A fresh history will once again be etched on September 26, 2025, when India will bid farewell to the first supersonic fighter it had inducted over 6 decades ago!
On Friday (September 26, 2025), not just India but the world bore witness to history being made at Air Force Station, Chandigarh. A MiG-21 Bison roared into the skies and land for the last time, marking the end of a journey that began more than 60 years ago in the very same city.
For the Indian Air Force (IAF), it was both a farewell steeped in pride and a moment of nostalgia for the iconic sound of the MiG-21’s engine will never echo across India’s skies again.
MiG-21 farewell: A story comes full circle?
In 1963, it was here that Wing Commander Dilbagh Singh, later to become the Chief of Air Staff raised the first MiG-21 squadron, No. 28, proudly named “The First Supersonics.” On Friday, another air chief, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, personally fly the last sortie of No. 23 Squadron, using the call sign “Badal 3.”
The phasing-out ceremony has drawn the highest military and political attention. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan, the three service chiefs, and all Commander-in-Chiefs of IAF commands will be present. Six former chiefs of the Air Force – Air Chief Marshals S. Krishnaswamy, AY Tipnis, SP Tyagi, PV Naik, BS Dhanoa, and RKS. Bhadauria – joined the audience, a living bridge to the MiG-21’s era of dominance.
The ceremony also featured a dazzling show: the Suryakiran aerobatics team painting the skies, an Akashganga skydiving display, Jaguar fighter aircraft simulating a raid, and the MiG-21s of No. 23 Squadron – the Panthers – chasing them one last time. As the six MiG-21s landed from their final flypast, they received a water cannon salute.
Among their pilots was Squadron Leader Priya Sharma, carrying forward a legacy that once began with seven handpicked officers training in Russia.
How did the MiG-21 enter Indian skies?
The Cold War was at its height when India began searching for a supersonic fighter. The choice fell on the Soviet-designed MiG-21, a sleek, needle-nosed interceptor that promised unmatched speed and agility.
In April 1963, the first six MiG-21s reached Chandigarh, having been flown in stages from Mumbai, where they had arrived in disassembled form and were painstakingly put together by Soviet engineers. That same year, No. 28 Squadron was raised in Chandigarh under Wing Commander Dilbagh Singh’s command.
Seven IAF officers were sent to the Soviet Union for training, which included Dilbagh Singh, MSD Wollen, SK Mehra, AK Mukherjee, HS Gill, AK Sen, Denzil Keelor, and BD Jayal. While Keelor could not complete training due to medical reasons, the others became the first Indians to tame the supersonic jet.
Two years later, Wollen on to lead the squadron during the 1965 war.
What role did the MiG-21 play in combat?
For decades, the MiG-21 was the backbone of the IAF. It played a vital role in both the 1965 and 1971 wars against Pakistan, striking deep into enemy territory and defending Indian skies with unmatched swiftness. Its compact size and blistering acceleration made it a favorite of pilots who loved its raw power.
In December 1971, during the Bangladesh Liberation War, MiG-21s helped establish air superiority, crippling Pakistan’s air defences. The aircraft was also central to later operations, including the 1999 Kargil conflict.
Even in the 21st century, the MiG-21 refused to fade quietly. In February 2019, a MiG-21 Bison flown by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman shot down a Pakistani F-16, making global headlines and proving that even in its twilight years, the aircraft could still punch above its weight.
The Flying Coffin: How MiG-21got the name?
With its long service came tragedies. From its first mid-air collision in December 1963 near Chandigarh to the hundreds of accidents that followed, the MiG-21 became infamous for its high crash rate. Many young pilots lost their lives, earning the aircraft the grim nickname ‘The Flying Coffin’.
Yet, despite its dangers, generations of IAF pilots wore their MiG wings as a badge of honor. Mastering the jet was considered a rite of passage, a test of nerves and skill that produced some of the IAF’s finest aviators.
MiG-21 in wars: How it supported Indian forces?
India’s first supersonic jet fighter combined speed, agility, and ruggedness. Introduced in the early 1960s, it quickly became the backbone of the Indian Air Force (IAF), with its combat debut being tested and showcased during the 1965 war with Pakistan. However, only a few squadrons were available at the time.
Even in limited use, the MiG-21 showcased performance that surpassed many contemporaries. The jet’s true test came during the 1971 Indo-Pak War, when MiG-21s flew in large numbers. They achieved multiple air-to-air kills, struck deep into enemy territory, and demonstrated their superiority over advanced Western fighters.
One of the most iconic moments was when a MiG-21 downed a US-made F-104 Starfighter, an aircraft considered technologically superior, cementing the MiG’s reputation as a lethal dogfighter. Over the decades, the MiG-21 became much more than a war machine.
How relevant was MiG-21 in modern conflicts?
Remarkably, the MiG-21 continued to serve India even as newer aircraft entered service. During the 1999 Kargil conflict, MiG-21s carried out strikes against enemy positions in the treacherous high-altitude terrain of Jammu and Kashmir. In 2019, the aircraft made global headlines once again.
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, flying a MiG-21 Bison, shot down a Pakistani F-16 during a rare dogfight.
The MiG-21’s story is one of resilience and adaptability. From shooting down advanced enemy fighters in the 1970s to downing an F-16 in 2019, it consistently proved its worth. More importantly, it served as the training ground for IAF pilots, shaping India’s air combat capability for over six decades.
Legacy of ‘The First Supersonics’
The MiG-21s inducted in 1963 were the F-13 variants, the earliest versions. Over the years, upgraded models – the FL, M, MF, and later the Bison – kept the aircraft relevant. No. 28 Squadron, the pioneer First Supersonics, retained its name proudly even after switching to MiG-29s, and today it operates from Adampur in Punjab.
The MiG-21 not only changed the IAF’s capabilities but also transformed India’s aviation industry, with licensed production by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). It gave India the confidence to think about indigenous fighters in later decades.
How will the MiG-21 be remembered?
As the final six MiG-21s touch down in Chandigarh on Friday, their water cannon salute will be more than a farewell. It will be a salute to a machine that shaped the destiny of the Indian Air Force.
From its thunderous debut as India’s first supersonic jet to its fiery role in wars and its tragic accidents, the MiG-21’s journey has been as dramatic as it has been long. For many veterans, it is not just a fighter aircraft but a symbol of courage, sacrifice, and resilience.
When the skies over Chandigarh fall silent after its last sortie, India will bid goodbye not just to an aircraft, but to an era.