End of an era: IAF's iconic MiG-21 to retire on 26 September after 61 years of service

After more than sixty years of glorious service, the legendary MiG-21, often hailed as the backbone of the Indian Air Force, is preparing to take its final bow during a special ceremony being organised at Air Force Station, Chandigarh, on 26 September.

- PARWINDER SANDHU

The jet that once thundered across the skies, defending the nation with unmatched grit and power, will forever remain etched in the memories of generations of air warriors and citizens alike. As the MiG-21 retires with honour, its proud legacy will now pass on to the indigenously built Tejas LCA Mark 1A, a symbol of India’s self-reliance and a new chapter in the nation’s aviation story.

Inducted into the IAF in 1963, the MiG-21 was the country's first supersonic fighter jet, which saw a lot of action during the 1971 war against Pakistan.