Indian Air Force Retires Final MiG-21 Fighter Jets, Closing a 60-Year Chapter
After 60 years of service, the Indian Air Force has retired its last MiG-21 fighter jets, marking the end of an era for these Soviet/Russian-made aircraft. This withdrawal represents a significant technological shift and a transformation in India’s air strategy. Nicknamed the “Flying Coffin” due to numerous safety issues, the MiG-21 has nonetheless played a critical role in Indian military history.
The retirement ceremony took place at Chandigarh Air Force Base in northern India, attended by a large crowd bidding farewell to the final 36 MiG-21s in service. Guests included Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and several senior Air Force officials. Despite their poor accident record, these aircraft were the backbone of the Indian Air Force for decades. Since the 1960s, India has operated 874 MiG-21s, which played a decisive role in the 1971 war against Pakistan. Although originally scheduled for retirement in the mid-1990s, the MiG-21’s withdrawal was delayed due to a lack of modern replacements. Despite recurring technical problems, the MiG-21s continued to fly missions until viable alternatives were deployed. The MiG-21s were involved in over 400 accidents, resulting in the loss of 171 pilots.
Frequent failures, particularly in engines, hydraulic systems, and electrical systems, often necessitated emergency landings or ejections. Rajnath Singh noted, “Engine failures, hydraulic failures, and electrical problems were frequent, with no reliable backup systems.” A former Air Force general emphasized that the MiG-21 was never designed to remain in service for nearly seven decades, stating it was long overdue for retirement. India is now embarking on a major program to modernize its air force, having ordered 97 Tejas aircraft for €7 billion. In April 2025, New Delhi signed an agreement with France to acquire the Rafale aircraft, with discussions underway for the potential purchase of 114 additional units. As the world’s fifth-largest economy and a major arms importer, India faces persistent threats, particularly from neighboring Pakistan. In May 2025, military clashes between the two nations lasted four days.
The MiG-21 was largely phased out globally, with only a few nations – such as North Korea, Syria, Angola, Yemen, and Myanmar – still operating small numbers in 2025, though their combat effectiveness is likely limited. The Soviet Air Force began phasing out the MiG-21 in the 1980s as newer aircraft like the MiG-29 and Su-27 entered service. By the early 1990s, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia had largely retired the MiG-21 from frontline service, relegating most to reserve roles or scrapping them by the mid-1990s.
Some training units may have used them into the early 2000s. The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) operated licensed-built MiG-21 variants, known as the Chengdu J-7. While the MiG-21 itself was phased out by the 1990s, J-7 variants remained in service longer. The PLAAF began retiring J-7s in significant numbers in the 2000s, with most withdrawn by the mid-2010s, though some export or trainer variants lingered in limited roles into the 2020s. The Vietnam People’s Air Force used MiG-21s extensively during the Vietnam War, and they remained a backbone into the 2000s. Vietnam began phasing out older MiG-21 variants in the 2010s, with the last reportedly retired by 2015–2017, replaced by Su-27s and Su-30s.
Cuba’s Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force operated MiG-21s as a key component of its air force. Economic constraints kept some in limited service into the 2010s, but by the early 2020s, most had become non-operational or retired due to a lack of spare parts, with Cuba relying on a small number of other aircraft. Many former Warsaw Pact countries, such as Czechoslovakia, East Germany, and Hungary, phased out MiG-21s in the 1990s or early 2000s as they joined NATO and acquired Western aircraft. African nations like Angola and Mozambique retired their MiG-21s in the 2000s or early 2010s due to obsolescence and maintenance issues. Serbia retired its MiG-21s in 2021. The Korean People’s Army Air Force continues to operate a limited number of MiG-21s as of 2025, though their operational status is questionable due to maintenance challenges. Exact phase-out dates remain unclear, but they are among the last operators of the type.
