Russian-origin MIG-21 fighter jets have been dropped from service in September this year, as planned to replace the remaining squadron with indigenously developed Tejas Mark-1A aircraft as per the Indian Air Force plan.
In October 2023, Jets last participated Annual Air Force Day Parade. A time -term was then finalized to phase the MiG -21.
In a press conference around the same time, the head of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhary had said that soon a contract to buy 97 Tejas Mark-1A aircraft at a cost of about Rs 1.15 lakh crore was completed. It was in addition to a deal of Rs 48,000 crore signed with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in 2021 for the purchase of 83 such jets.
“We will replace the Mig-21 squadron with LCA Mark-1A. LCA Mark-1A’s induction outgoing would fill the gap of Mig-21s,” the news agency said. PTI.
What are MiG -21 jets?
MiG-21 is single engine, single-seater multi-roll fighter/ground attack aircraft. They have been the mainstay of IAF for a long time since its induction in the early 1960s.
IAF had purchased more than 870 MiG -21 fighters to promote its overall war skills.
While he was first included as an interceptor aircraft in 1963, he was upgraded to perform various roles performed by a fighter aircraft including a ground attack in the next few decades.
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