MiG-21 era ends, which aircraft will replace it in the Indian Air Force? News24 –
India on Friday, September 26, bid farewell to its iconic Mig-21 fighter jets. The final two MiG-21 squadrons, the No. 23 (Panthers) and the No. 3 (Cobras), which together operated around 36 jets, were retired in Chandigarh during a decommissioning ceremony. Air Chief Marshal A P Singh led the last sortie of the MiG-21 as the legendary aircraft fleet was officially decommissioned. The MiG-21s flew in the Badal (cloud) formation, consisting of three aircraft in an inverted ‘V’ configuration.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also paid tribute to the combat jet, recalling its contributions in various conflicts, from the 1971 war to the Kargil conflict, and from the Balakot airstrike to Operation Sindoor. He hailed it as a tremendous strength for India’s armed forces. Inducted into the Indian Air Force in 1963, the MiG-21 concluded its remarkable 63 years of service. In a symbolic gesture, following a water canon salute, the Air Chief handed over the aircraft’s Form 700 logbook to Singh, marking the end of an era.
Which aircraft will replace it in the Indian Air Force?
With the retirement of MiG-21, all eyes are on which aircraft will replace it. In a special moment, MiG-21 jets flew in formation with the new indigenous Tejas aircraft, symbolically conveying the message: “I hand over the glory to the next lineage”. This gesture strongly suggests that the Tejas will gradually take over the fleet.
Currently, the Tejas fighter jet is operated by No. 45 Squadron “Flying Daggers” and No. 18 Squadron “Flying Bullets.” Soon, a third unit No. 3 Squadron “Cobras” will also be inducted. Meanwhile, the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is set to roll out the first Tejas Mk1A aircraft next month from its Nashik production facility. Tejas Mk-1A is manufactured by HAL, which is a government aerospace company.
Tejas Mark-1A to be rolled out next month
It is an upgraded Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) featuring an advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, an enhanced electronic warfare suite for improved survivability, Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) capability, and network-centric warfare systems using Software-Defined Radio (SDR). The aircraft can reach a maximum speed of 2205km/h and is capable of refuelling mid-air.
Tejas Mark-1A is a new generation, multi-role fighter jet, and a state-of-the-art combat aircraft, specifically designed for the Indian Air Force (IAF). It is considered a significant upgrade over the MiG-21, featuring advanced radar systems, avionics and weapon. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh had earlier stated that two Tejas Mk-1A aircraft will soon be added to the Indian Air Force fleet. Tejas, India’s indigenous fighter aircraft, is set to replace the MiG-21 and become a key workhorse for the Indian Air Force, he added.
“The intent is to provide enough visibility to HAL to perfect this platform. About 38 are already in service, another 80-odd are being manufactured; 10 of them are ready, and two engines have been delivered so far. Hopefully, the first two of those are going to be delivered with weapons integration this September. We will do the contact signing next month,” said Singh during NDTV Defence Summit.
Moreover, Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Thursday signed a contract with HAL for procurement of 97 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A, including 68 fighters and 29 twin seaters, along with associated equipment, for Indian Air Force, at a cost of over Rs. 62,370 crore (excluding taxes). The delivery of these aircraft would commence during 2027-28 and be completed over a period of six years.