'Warhorse' Retires: How Legendary Fighter MiG-21 Shaped India’s Air Defence In Its Six-Decade Journey

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will retire its iconic MiG-21 fighter jet on Sept. 26, bringing to a close the six-decade journey of the aircraft, often called a “warhorse”.

The IAF will conduct a complete dress rehearsal on Sept. 24, prior to its official retirement in Chandigarh, the base of the MiG-21’s first squadron.

MiG-21 was India's first supersonic fighter, inducted in 1963. Its initial squadron, the 28 Squadron at Chandigarh, earned the designation “First Supersonics.” India acquired more than 700 MiG-21s from Russia in a number of variants over the years. Many were also locally produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

The MiG-21 became the workhorse of the IAF until the mid-2000s, featuring in the 1965 and 1971 wars, the 1999 Kargil conflict, Balakot airstrikes of 2019 and Operation Sindoor.

Beyond its combat achievements, the MiG-21 played a big role in shaping India’s aerospace development. Its domestic production at HAL pushed indigenous manufacturing and technology development to new levels.

In August, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh honoured the MiG-21 with solo sorties from the Nal airbase in Bikaner, Rajasthan.

The IAF also posted a video on X, calling the plane a “warhorse that carried the pride of a nation into the skies,” and recalling its history and achievements through generations.

As MiG-21 squadrons are withdrawn, the IAF’s combat capability will reportedly drop to 29 squadrons. Reports say the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk 1A will replace the MiG-21 fleet slowly, ensuring that India’s air defence remains strong.