THE IAF'S MIG-21: FAREWELL TO A LEGEND

For over three decades, from the 1970s to the 2000s, the MiG-21 was the backbone of the IAF, even as more advanced jets like the Mirage 2000, the MiG-29 and the Su-30 MKI were acquired

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ON OCTOBER 8, AS THE INDIAN AIR FORCE (IAF) LOOKS BACK at its 93-year history with quiet satisfaction, one aircraft – the MiG-21 – will stand out from the rest. This fighter jet was remarkable, not just for its sheer weight of numbers, but for its amazing longevity. In fact, its 62 years of distinguished service with the IAF makes it the longest serving supersonic jet fighter in the inventory of any major Air Force of the world. For over three decades, from the 1970s to the 2000s, the MiG-21 was the backbone of the IAF, even as more advanced jets like the Mirage 2000, the MiG-29 and the Su-30 MKI were acquired. At its peak, the IAF operated 19 MiG-21 squadrons with around 400 aircraft.

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 was designed in the Soviet Union purely as a supersonic interceptor, and armed only with air-to-air missiles, no cannon. It later morphed into a multi-role combat aircraft with interceptor, fighter and ground strike capabilities. The Soviets wanted to fill the skies with thousands of cheap, lightweight, reliable jets. And they succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. Produced at around a third of the cost of comparable Western aircraft, capable of operating from rough airstrips, with frugal maintenance needs, yet packing a significant punch, it was grabbed by many less advanced countries. It ultimately became the most-produced supersonic jet in aviation history (11,496 aircraft) with over 60 countries having operated it during the 70 years after its first flight on June 16, 1955. China managed to reverse engineer the MiG-21 into the Chengdu J-7/F-7, building another 2,400 aircraft.