Historical Significance
- India procured over 700 MiG-21 fighter aircraft since the 1960s.
- Originally from the Soviet Union, many units were domestically produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
- Served as the backbone of the IAF’s combat fleet for over 5 decades.
Relevance : GS 3(Defence , Internal Security)
Operational Use & Combat Record
- Participated in multiple wars:
- 1971 India-Pakistan War
- Kargil Conflict (1999)
- Balakot Airstrikes (2019) – then Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman shot down a Pakistani F-16 using a MiG-21 Bison, before being shot down himself.
Accidents & Safety Concerns
| Metric | Value |
| Total MiG-21 variants inducted | 700 |
| Pilots killed in crashes | 170 |
| Civilians killed in accidents | 40 |
| Common nickname | “Flying Coffin” due to high crash rate |
The MiG-21’s prolonged service and aging design made it a liability despite mid-life upgrades.
Current Status
- Two squadrons remain (36 aircraft):
- 23 Squadron “Panthers”
- No. 3 Squadron “Cobras”
- Both stationed at Nal Airbase, Rajasthan.
Future Impact
- After phasing out MiG-21, IAF’s squadron strength will drop to 29 (against the sanctioned strength of 42).
- This could affect IAF’s full-spectrum deterrence unless new aircraft are inducted swiftly (e.g., Tejas Mk-1A, Rafale, or future AMCA).
