The Indian Air Force (IAF) retired its MiG-21 fighter jets after 62 years of service, with the last operational flights conducted at Nal Air Force Station in Bikaner in August 2025, ahead of a formal retirement ceremony scheduled for September 26 in Chandigarh. The MiG-21, inducted in 1963, played significant roles in the 1965 and 1971 wars, the Kargil conflict, and 2019 aerial engagements, including shooting down enemy aircraft. Air Chief Marshal A P Singh flew solo sorties on the MiG-21 as a symbolic farewell, highlighting the jet's agility and interceptor capabilities but noting its outdated technology and maintenance challenges. The IAF plans to replace the MiG-21 with newer platforms such as the indigenous Tejas, Rafales, and Su-30s, with 83 Tejas jets already contracted. The MiG-21 underwent several upgrades, including the Bison variant with modern avionics and missiles. Currently, two squadrons remain active, which will be phased out next month, marking the end of a historic chapter in India’s air power. (Updated 25 Aug 2025, 17:12 IST; source: link)