The Indian Air Force (IAF) marked a significant moment on Monday as it retired another squadron of the Mig-21 Bison fighter aircraft, resulting in the current active number of squadrons being reduced to two.
This momentous event took place during a ceremony at the Uttarlai Air Force Station situated in Rajasthan's Barmer. During this event, a Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter squadron officially replaced the Mig-21 Bison squadron. The ceremony featured an impressive flypast by both the Su-30MKI and the Mig-21 Bison fighters, filling the skies above Barmer.
Worth noting is that the number 4 squadron (also known as Oorials) of the IAF, which is based at Uttarlai, had been operating the Mig-21 Bison fighters since as far back as 1966.
The IAF has set a clear objective to retire all squadrons of the Mig-21 Bison by the year 2025, signifying a significant shift in its aircraft inventory.
In an official statement, the IAF stated, "Marking the end of an era, the MiG-21 Bison aircraft were seen for the last time in the skies of Uttarlai in Barmer district in Rajasthan on October 30."
ABOUT MIG-21 BISON
The Mig-21, introduced in 1963 during the tenure of then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru, held the distinction of being the IAF's first supersonic fighter aircraft.
Since its induction, the Mig-21 has actively participated in all of India's major conflicts, notably including the 1965 and 1971 India-Pakistan wars, as well as the 1999 Kargil conflict. This single-engine fighter played a pivotal role in these historical confrontations, serving as the backbone of the IAF for over four decades.
In 2019, the then Wing Commander, now Group Captain, Abhinandan Varthaman achieved international recognition when he successfully shot down a Pakistan Air Force's F-16 jet using his Mig-21 fighter. Subsequently, in 2021, he was awarded the prestigious Vir Chakra (VrC) by then-President Ram Nath Kovind.
