India has finally retired its last fleet of MiG-21 fighter jets, infamous for decades as “flying coffins” due to their poor safety record. The farewell marks the end of a 63-year-long era, but also exposes a growing shortage of operational aircraft for the Indian Air Force. On September 26, the Indian Air Force (IAF) held a lavish farewell ceremony at Air Force Station Chandigarh, live-streamed on social media. Senior military officials, including India’s defense minister, attended the event.

Highlighting the jet’s historic role, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh personally piloted a single-seat MiG-21 in the final flypast. The ceremony officially grounded the jets, permanently closing a turbulent chapter in India’s military aviation. India was the first non-communist nation to induct the MiG-21 in 1963, with its pilots trained in the Soviet Union. Soon after, Hindustan Aeronautics began producing the jets under license, ultimately building more than 600 aircraft.

The MiG-21 became the backbone of the IAF, playing central roles in the 1965 and 1971 wars against Pakistan. It also saw action in later crises, but its record included painful defeats, with jets shot down during the 1999 Kargil conflict and again in 2019. Over the years, the MiG-21 gained notoriety for its alarming safety record. Hundreds of crashes, many fatal, turned the aircraft into a symbol of risk rather than reliability.

In Pakistan, the MiG-21 was derisively called a “paper plane,” especially after humiliating losses in aerial clashes in 2019 and 2025 against Pakistan’s modern fighters.  The jet’s constant accidents earned it the dreaded nickname “flying coffin” in India. Public criticism intensified in recent years as fatalities mounted.  In the 2000s, India attempted to extend the MiG-21’s life with an upgrade to the “Bison” standard.

These jets received new radars, avionics, electronic warfare systems, and the ability to fire R-77 beyond-visual-range missiles.  Despite these improvements, the upgrades could not erase the jet’s reputation or compensate for its aging design.  While India has retired the MiG-21 after six decades, the fighter still lingers in other parts of the world.

Cirium fleet data shows that seven air forces collectively hold 101 MiG-21s, though their operational status is questionable.  Major operators include North Korea with 26 jets, Angola with 23, and Yemen with 19. Smaller fleets remain in Libya, Mali, Mozambique, and Sudan. Additionally, 11 MiG-21s are preserved by private owners and museums.  With the grounding of its MiG-21 fleet, the IAF now faces a significant shortage of combat aircraft.

Despite modernization efforts, India’s air power has been stretched thin, raising questions about readiness amid regional tensions.  For now, the MiG-21’s retirement is both a historic farewell and a stark reminder of India’s urgent need to replace outdated aircraft with reliable, modern fighters.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)