The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday retired its legendary MiG-21 fighter jet after nearly sixty years of service. The final sortie was flown during a solemn decommissioning ceremony held in Chandigarh, marking the end of an era in Indian military aviation. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the ceremony and paid tribute to the aircraft’s unmatched legacy. Speaking at the event, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “For a long time, MiG-21 has been a witness to numerous heroic deeds. Its contribution has not been limited to a single event or a single war.” He added that the fighter jet played a decisive role in the 1971 war, the Kargil war, the Balakot airstrike, and even in Operation Sindoor. “There has not been a moment when the MiG-21 has not provided tremendous strength to our armed forces,” Singh said.
