The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to retire the entire ageing fleet of MiG-21 fighter jets by 2025. The first squadron (18-20 fighter jets), based in Srinagar, will bid adieu by September this year. Three other squadrons will follow suit over the next three years.
The Russian made MiG-21s were inducted into the IAF in 1963 and till now nearly 400 mishaps have taken place involving this aircraft. Around 200 pilots have been killed in these crashes.
In the last seven months alone six MiG-21s crashed, underlining the urgency to retire these jets. In fact, the planes acquired the dubious nickname of
“Flying Coffin” due to its alarming safety record. The IAF has over the years been phasing out MiG-21 which at one point of time numbered 874 and formed the mainstay of the country’s air defence. The planes were upgraded from time to time to ensure operational readiness and fill the gap arising out of delays in procurement of the latest jets.
The phase out plan in the last some years has seen the front-line SU-30s replacing the MiG-21s. With the induction of nearly 100 indigenously designed and manufactured Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA), the IAF will ensure full readiness in the next few years.
The Srinagar-based 51 squadron “Sword Arms” will retire on September 30.
The squadron became a household name when one of its pilots wing Commander (now Group Captain) Abhinandan Varthaman, who was awarded Vir Chakra, shot down a Pakistani F-16 during a dogfight over the Line of Control (LoC) on February 27, 2019.
The aerial battle took place a day after IAF bombed a terror facility in Pakistan’s Balakot.
It was also clarified that the retiring of the remaining squadrons was as per schedule and not linked to the MiG-21 crash on Thursday in which two IAF pilots were killed.
On the accident record of the MiG, sources said more of these jets were involved in accidents as compared to other fighter jets as they form the bulk of the IAF fighter fleet.
Incidentally, Russia and erstwhile Soviet Union stopped flying the MiG-21s besides Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
Faced with depleting fighter jet squadron fleet strength, the IAF now plans to manufacture multi-role aircraft within the country with foreign collaboration. At least 114 jets are planned to be manufactured here under the strategic partnership policy. The proposed cost of the deal is more than 15 billion dollars.
The US, Russia, France and Sweden are likely to pitch for the deal with their F-16 and F-18, MiG-25, Rafales and Gripen jets respectively.