IAF Bids Farewell to MiG-21 at Chandigarh Ceremony
Why in the news
The Indian Air Force held an official farewell ceremony for the MiG-21 at Chandigarh Air Force Station on 26 September 2025, closing a long chapter in its fighter history.
Key facts
- Venue and date: Chandigarh Air Force Station, 26 September 2025.
- The MiG-21 was the first supersonic fighter aircraft to enter IAF service, in 1963.
- It served the Indian Air Force for over six decades.
- The remaining MiG-21 Bison fleet is to be replaced by the indigenous HAL Tejas.
- The aircraft made a final public appearance at the Air Force Day flypast at Prayagraj in October 2023.
About the MiG-21
The MiG-21 is a Mikoyan-Gurevich design, flown by India for more than six decades. Its safety record drew criticism, and it earned the nickname flying coffin because of accidents. The upgraded version flown by the IAF was called the Bison.
Exam angle
- Remember 1963 as the induction year and Chandigarh as the farewell venue.
- The successor named in the plan is the indigenous HAL Tejas.
- MiG-21 is associated with the label first supersonic fighter in the IAF.