The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to retire its MiG-21 fighter jets by September 2025, marking the end of a significant era in Indian military aviation. After more than six decades of service, the iconic Russian-origin aircraft will be replaced by the indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mark 1A.

First inducted in 1963, the MiG-21 was the first supersonic jet to enter service with the IAF. Over 870 MiG-21s were inducted into the IAF, with nearly 600 produced domestically by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The aircraft played a crucial role in various conflicts, including the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan, the 1999 Kargil War, and the 2019 Balakot airstrike. During the 1971 war, MiG-21s helped the IAF gain air superiority over vital points, and one even claimed a Pakistani F-104A Starfighter. The MiG-21 also played a key role during the Balakot airstrike in 2019, when Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, flying a MiG-21 Bison, shot down a Pakistani F-16 aircraft.

Despite its contributions, the MiG-21 has been under scrutiny due to its safety record. The aircraft has been involved in numerous crashes over the years, earning it the nickname "flying coffin". Government data indicates that over 500 MiG-21s have crashed in the last 60 years, killing over 170 pilots. In one incident in May 2023, a MiG-21 crash in Rajasthan killed three civilians. These accidents have been attributed to various factors, including technical defects, human error, and bird hits.

The decision to retire the MiG-21s was initially planned for 2022 but was delayed due to delays in the delivery of the replacement LCA Tejas Mk1A jets. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd CMD D K Sunil attributed the delays to US defence major GE Aerospace missing the deadline for the supply of engines. The IAF is expected to receive at least half a dozen Tejas Light Combat Aircraft by March 2026. A larger contract for 97 aircraft valued at ₹1.15 lakh crore is expected soon.

The last MiG-21 squadron, the 23 Squadron or "Panthers," is stationed at the Nal Air Base in Rajasthan and will be decommissioned on September 19 at a ceremonial event in Chandigarh. The farewell will include flypasts, static displays, and attendance by IAF veterans and senior leadership. With the MiG-21's retirement, the IAF's combat strength will dip to 29 squadrons, its lowest since the 1960s. In the long term, the IAF aims to induct the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), which is currently under development in Bengaluru.