The iconic MiG-21 fighter jets of the Indian Air Force (IAF) bid farewell to Indian skies on Friday. The farewell took place at the Chandigarh Air Force Station. The Russian-origin jets had served the force for over six decades.
Air Chief Marshal AP Singh flew the last sortie of the squadron with the call sign Badal 3. This historic flight marked the end of an era.
Grand Ceremony at Chandigarh
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the event. Former IAF chiefs SP Tyagi and BS Dhanoa were also present. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla joined the ceremony too.
A spectacular display by IAF’s elite skydiving team, Akash Ganga, mesmerised the audience. The skydivers jumped from 8,000 feet, followed by a majestic flypast of MiG-21s.
VIDEO | MiG 21 Farewell: Air Chief Marshal A P Singh flies the last sortie of the Squadron with the call sign ‘Badal 3’.
The last of the MiG-21 jets, belonging to number 23 Squadron, nicknamed “Panthers” are being given a farewell at the decommissioning ceremony at the… pic.twitter.com/TvlIkDLs7A
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 26, 2025
The ceremony also included the air warrior drill team and an aerial salute. Fighter pilots flew in two formations — the three-aircraft Badal and the four-aircraft Panther. The Surya Kiran aerobatic team added to the spectacle with breathtaking maneuvers.
A Glorious Legacy
The MiG-21 was inducted into the IAF in the early 1960s. It catapulted the force into the jet age. The IAF procured over 870 of these supersonic jets.
The aircraft proved its worth in the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan. It also played key roles in the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes.
In a post on X, the IAF said, “Six decades of service, countless tales of courage, a warhorse that carried pride of a nation into the skies.”
Mig-21- Six decades of service, countless tales of courage, a warhorse that carried pride of a nation into the skies.@DefenceMinIndia@SpokespersonMoD@HQ_IDS_India@adgpi@indiannavy@IndiannavyMedia@CareerinIAF pic.twitter.com/lXv8YlO7PB
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) September 20, 2025
The MiG-21s received a water gun salute before being officially decommissioned.
Safety Concerns Over the Years
Despite their legacy, MiG-21s were involved in multiple crashes. Questions were often raised about their safety record. The ageing Soviet-origin fleet had long been under scrutiny.
#WATCH | Chandigarh | MiG-21s receive a water gun salute as they decommission after 63 years in service. pic.twitter.com/cPWLHBDdzs
— ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2025
The farewell of the MiG-21 jets marked a historic day for the IAF. The aircraft served as the backbone of the combat fleet for more than six decades. Its journey ended with honor, courage, and a spectacular farewell in Chandigarh skies.
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