MiG-21 decommissioned | Carried weight of national security on its wings, symbol of deep India-Russia ties: Rajnath Singh

Addressing a gathering at the decommissioning ceremony of the MiG-21, which was inducted into the Air Force in 1963, at the Chandigarh Air Force Station, Singh recalled the “courage, sacrifice and excellence” of the Soviet-origin fighter jet.

The defence minister said there is no fighter jet in the history of military aviation in the world, which has been manufactured in such great numbers. “More than 11,500 MiG-21 aircraft were produced and of them 850 were part of IAF alone. This number is the testimony to the popularity, credibility and multi-dimensional capabilities of this aircraft,” he said.

Referring to the final flypast of MiG-21, which was led by the air chief, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, he said this showed credibility and honour for this aircraft in the minds of air warriors.

“From the 1971 war to the Kargil war, or from Balakot air strikes to Operation Sindoor, there has not been any moment when MiG-21 did not strengthen our armed forces. In the 1971, the outcome of the was was decided the day MiG-21 attacked the Governor House in Dhaka,” he said, adding in any historic mission, “MiG-21 always held the honour of the national flag high”.

Singh said the farewell marks the legacy of courage, sacrifice and excellence of MiG-21 as much as it is “a hallmark of the collective pride of the nation”.

Singh said “our ancient culture teaches” that God is exists not only in living but also in non-living things. “Our civilisation and our culture teach us that respect should be given to every single thing that makes some contributions to our lives. When we gathered here to bid farewell to MiG-21, it should not be seen as a formal military ceremony but as an expansion of our cultural tradition,” he said.

“The way we honour a soldier on his retirement, the same way we are giving honour to this mighty machine, which has carried the weight of national security on its wings for decades,” he added.

The Minister further said that MiG-21 is like a family member. “It shaped our military confidence, strengthened our strategy and helped us establish ourselves at the global stage. It faced each challenge in its journey and proved its capability every time,” Singh said.

He said tnhere’s a misconception that IAF was flying the MiG-21s that were 60 years old. “The initial MiG-21s inducted in the 1960s and 70s were decommissioned long ago and the aircraft in service until now were at most 40 years old, the lifespan considered normal for fighter jets worldwide,” he said, adding that the MiG-21 was continuously upgraded with advanced radars, avionics and weapon systems, thanks to the efforts of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). “That is why MiG 21 continued to get IAF’s trust and respect for a long time,” he said, terming the jet “bird of all seasons”.

Underscoring the significance of Chandigarh as the venue for the decommissioning ceremony, Singh said that it was the place from where India’s “supersonic journey” began. “The MiG-21s were inducted here into the No.28 Squadron, also known as First Supersonics. This place is witness to the moment that gave a new identity to India’s air power,” Singh said.

The MiG-21s, he said, stopped the enemy in the role of interceptor and was equally adept in ground attack role. As air defence fighter jet, it protected the skies of the nation and as a trainer aircraft it trained many air warriors, he said.

In the nation’s security journey, MiG 21 stood like a ‘sarathi‘, Singh said, underlining that when the world looks at India tomorrow, it should see a nation that began with MiG-21 and now leads with futuristic defence technologies.

“The aircraft symbolises the continuity of courage, discipline and patriotism. Today also reminds us that we have to honour our past hut also keep marching towards future. MiG-21 has taught us that we should not fear change but keep moving forward. It will inspire the development of indigenous platforms such as LCA-Tejas and the upcoming Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). India can tackle every challenge and conquer it,” Singh said.

Marking the occasion, Singh released a special commemorative day cover and stamp honouring the legacy of MiG-21. He also made a visit to the Memory Lane museum, followed by lunch with air warriors and veterans.