MiG -21 FIGHTER JETS TO RETIRE

By Anshika Khera

After serving for 60 years, the Indian Air Force’s MiG-21 fighter jets, which came from Russia and have been its main aircraft for decades, will retire. A big farewell event will be held in Chandigarh on Friday.The Indian Air Force will say goodbye to the MiG-21 fighter jets at a retirement event in Chandigarh. These famous aircraft have been part of the force since the 1960s, and Chandigarh is also where they were first brought into service over 60 years ago.

On Friday, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh will take the final flight of the MiG-21 Bison jet. Back in 1963, Dilbagh Singh, who later became IAF chief in 1981, had led the first MiG-21 squadron from the same place.The MiG-21 jets will officially retire on September 26 with a special flypast and farewell event, closing an important chapter in India’s air power history.

The last MiG-21 jets, from the 23 Squadron called the “Panthers,” will be retired at a farewell ceremony at the Chandigarh Air Force station. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be the chief guest at the event. After the flypast on Friday, six MiG-21 jets from the 23 Squadron will land and be given a water cannon salute. One of the pilots will be Squadron Leader Priya Sharma, who also flew in the rehearsal on Wednesday. She will be remembered in aviation history as the last woman fighter pilot to fly the MiG-21.