MiG-21 Fighter Squadrons To Get Retired By 2025

Srinagar-based No 51 to be number-plated by September

The Indian Air Force IAF has drawn up a three-year timeline to phase out the remaining four MiG-21 fighter squadrons with one of them set to retire from service in September, people familiar with the development said.

In an official report by the news agency, The Indian Air Force also plans to start the phasing out of the three squadrons of MiG-29 fighter jets in the next five years (2027).

At the same time, they added that the plan to phase out the Soviet-origin aircraft fleet is part of the IAF's modernisation drive and it is not related to the latest crash of a MiG-21 jet in Rajasthan's Barmer on Thursday night.

Wing Commander M Rana and Flight Lieutenant Advitiya Bal, the two pilots of the jet, were killed in the crash that once again put the spotlight on the ageing fleet.

The plan is to retire all the four MiG-21 squadrons by 2025, they added to news agency PTI.

The Srinagar-based No 51 squadron will be number-plated on September 30. The number plating refers to the retirement of a squadron that generally comprises 17-20 aircraft.

The squadron, also known as 'Swordarms', was part ' of 'Operation Safed Sagar' during the Kargil conflict in 1999 as well as the operation to repulse Pakistan's retaliatory action on February 27, 2019, a day after India's air strike in Balakot inside the neighbouring country.

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was from the No 51 Squadron, downed an enemy jet during aerial combat. He was later conferred with the Vir Chakra award by then President Ram Nath Kovind.

Abhinandan Varthaman is now a Group Captain.

Presently, IAF has around 70 MiG-21 aircraft and 50 MiG-29 variants.