The MiG-21: Six Decades of Piercing the Skies

A Hot Summer day at AFS Ambala

The tarmac shimmers under the blistering 40°C sun, at Air Force Station in Ambala. Heat waves rise from the runway, distorting the horizon. Suddenly, from the corner of your eye, a blur of silver and grey cuts through the haze. A sharp conical nose, slender fuselage, tricycle landing gear touching down in perfect rhythm, and a vertical tail fin towering against the sky, the ear shattering MiG-21. In that instant, it isn’t just an aircraft; it’s a burst of energy, a spear of steel and fire, a symbol of raw speed and defiance.

Hello, Mr. Interceptor...

A Needle in the Sky

With its adjustable pointed nose cone and unmistakable delta-shaped wings, the MiG-21 (NATO reporting name FISHBED) looked every inch the supersonic fighter it was meant to be. Designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich bureau in the USSR, it was an interceptor that promised speed, agility, and raw power. For young pilots of the Indian Air Force, inducted into service in 1963, it was the stuff of dreams, a chance to pierce the skies at Mach 2, to defy gravity with an almost otherworldly velocity.

The Backbone of the IAF

Over the decades, the MiG-21 became the backbone of the IAF’s combat fleet. Variants such as the MiG-21PF (Type-76) with its RP-21 ‘Sapphire’ radar and the formidable 'bis' and 'Bison' upgrades brought new avionics, better weapons, and renewed life to the fighter. Squadrons across the country proudly carried its legacy, No. 3 “Cobras”, No. 4, No. 23 “Panthers”, and No. 51 “Sword Arms” among them.

From the 1971 war to the Kargil conflict, the MiG-21 stood guard. It was not merely an aircraft but an interceptor, a warrior, and often the difference between victory and defeat in the skies, the moment when, in English idiom, “the enemy felt the very ground slip from beneath their feet.”

The Dream of Every Pilot

Ask any veteran of the IAF, and many will tell you: to fly the MiG-21 was to touch fire. It demanded skill, precision, and nerves of steel. To be trusted with it was an honour.

As Buzz Aldrin once said:

“Fighter pilots have ice in their veins. They don’t have emotions. They think, anticipate. They know that fear and other concerns cloud your mind from what’s going on and what you should be involved in.”

Those words ring true for generations of MiG-21 pilots. The aircraft left no room for hesitation – only mastery. Its cockpit was both a crucible and a cathedral, testing the limits of human courage.

A Legacy of Service

For six decades, the MiG-21 flew tirelessly in the service of the nation. It was upgraded, modernised, and reimagined, yet its spirit remained the same: fast, sharp, and dependable. Each sortie carried the weight of tradition. Each pilot who strapped into its cockpit carried the pride of those who came before.

In recent years, as newer aircraft took centre stage, the MiG-21 continued to fly on, a poignant reminder of India’s journey from fledgling air power to modern force.

The Final Chapter

In a poignant moment, the Chief of the Air Staff visited No. 23 Squadron “Panthers”, the last IAF squadron to operate the MiG-21. He flew a fighter sortie, and later joined a formation led by Squadron Leader Priya. It was a scene heavy with symbolism, tradition meeting transformation, the past saluting the future.

The final operational flights took place at Nal Air Force Station in Bikaner, closing an era written in jet flame and steel resolve. On 26 September 2025, the Indian Air Force will bid official farewell to the MiG-21, exactly 62 years after its induction.

An End, Yet a Beginning

The retirement of the MiG-21 marks the end of a chapter, but its memory will never fade. For the airmen who maintained it, the officers who commanded it, and the pilots who flew it, the aircraft will always be more than metal and rivets. It was a trusted comrade, a test of courage, and a symbol of national pride.

Even after the engines fall silent, its story will echo in every hangar, every veterans’ gathering, and every young cadet’s dream of flight.

A Salute to a Legend

As the MiG-21 bows out, let us remember what it stood for: speed, service, and sacrifice. It was the dream of every pilot, the defender of the skies, and the pride of a nation.

To all MiG-21 lovers, instructors, air force servicemen, and veterans: this farewell is not just for an aircraft, but for an era. The MiG-21 may leave the runways, but it will never leave our hearts. We will miss the unmistakable roar and thunder of its Tumansky turbojet engines, a sound that once rattled windows, shook the earth, and etched itself into the memory of a nation.

For aviation photographers too, the MiG-21 was magic, the dream of capturing that thunderous take-off, the glint of sunlight on its delta wings, the afterburner’s glow. That moment will be missed, but the images and memories will endure.

And so, as the final chapter closes, we whisper once more the words that defined its presence on the runway, in the sky, and in our memory:

Hello, Mr. Interceptor...

Artwork & Image: Pramod Sharma. Reproduction or use in any form is prohibited without consent.