The Indian Air Force is set to retire its final MiG-21 fighter jet squadron on September 19 at the Chandigarh Air Base, concluding 62 years of service. The aircraft, inducted in 1963, participated in major conflicts including the 1965 and 1971 wars and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes. This retirement will drop the IAF’s fighter strength to 29 squadrons, an all-time low. The shortfall is intensified by slow deliveries of the indigenous LCA Tejas from HAL, which were intended to replace the MiG-21s. An analyst noted the gravity of the situation, stating, "post-September 2025, I think the Air Force is going to be looking at a very, very reduced number of fighter aircraft in its squadron." This capability gap comes as India faces a collusive two-front threat from China and Pakistan, both of which are modernising their air forces with fifth-generation aircraft.
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