‘From Balakot to Operation Sindoor’: Rajnath Singh Honors MiG-21 as Iconic Fighter Retires After 62 Years

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday paid tribute to the legendary MiG-21, honoring its 62 years of distinguished service with the Indian Armed Forces.

The iconic fighter, India’s first supersonic interceptor, was formally retired during a ceremony in Chandigarh. Singh highlighted the MiG-21’s historic missions, noting its pivotal role in conflicts from the 1971 war to Kargil, as well as in recent operations like the Balakot airstrike and Operation Sindoor.

“The MiG-21 has long stood witness to numerous acts of bravery. Its contribution spans decades—from the 1971 war to Kargil, and from the Balakot airstrike to Operation Sindoor. There has not been a single moment when it did not provide tremendous strength to our armed forces,” Singh said. He recalled the aircraft’s decisive strike on the Governor’s House in Dhaka during the 1971 war, which helped shape the conflict’s outcome.

Singh described the farewell as a tribute not just to the aircraft, but to the collective memories and national pride associated with its service.

The MiG-21’s combat achievements include downing a Pakistani F-16 after the 2019 Balakot airstrike and supporting recent successful missions in Operation Sindoor.

The decommissioning ceremony featured an impressive flypast with MiG-21s, Jaguars, and the Suryakiran aerobatic team. Air Chief Marshal AP Singh led the Badal formation alongside Squadron Leader Priya Sharma.

With the retirement of the MiG-21, the Indian Air Force’s fighter strength will drop to 29 squadrons, below the sanctioned 42. This shortfall is expected to be addressed gradually through the induction of Tejas Mk-1 and Mk-2 aircraft and additional Rafale fighters.