Video: Indian Air Force bids farewell to MiG-21 Bison fighter jets

Farewell to the MiG-21 Bison as the Indian Air Force (IAF) is phasing out another squadron, which will be re-quipped with Su-31 MKI. India-based news agency ANI quoted IAF officials as saying that the MiG-21 Bison fighter aircraft of a squadron had performed its final flight.

The MiG-21 Bison and the Su-30 MKI flew together to mark the occasion.

IAF continues to operate two MiG-21 Bisonsquadrons.

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The MiG-21 has a bittersweet history, as it remained an integral part of the Indian air force but several crashes have also happened in recent years.

The MiG-21, developed by the Soviet Union in the 1950s, became one of the most-produced supersonic jets in history.

It played a significant role during the Cold War and in various conflicts worldwide. Despite its age, some countries still use modified versions today.

The MiG-21 is a classic Soviet-designed fighter jet known for its speed, agility and manoeuvrability.

It can reach a speedexceeding Mach 2 and is designed for agile dogfighting. However, advancements in aviation technology have surpassed the capabilities of the MiG-21 in modern air combat scenarios.

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Recently, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhary said in a press briefing that the current MiG-21s were projected to be entirely phased out by 2024.

"We will replace the MiG-21 squadrons with the LCA Mark-1A. The induction of the LCA Mark-1A will fill the gap of the outgoing MiG-21s," he was quoted as saying by PTI.

(With inputs from agencies)

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