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Old fighter jets don’t just retire – they soar into history. On September 26, the Indian Air Force will close a defining chapter as it bids farewell to the iconic MiG-21, which has served for more than six decades as the backbone of India’s combat fleet.
The send-off will be marked by symbolism and legacy. Squadron Leader Priya Sharma, one of the IAF’s earliest women fighter pilots, will take the MiG-21 into the skies one last time. Commissioned in December 2018, she was the only woman among 35 fighter pilots in her batch. A native of Jhunjhunu, she will now become part of history as the last woman to fly the MiG-21. On Tuesday, she joined five other pilots in a full-dress rehearsal for the farewell formation.
She will be joined by Air Chief Marshal A P Singh in the flight formation during the ceremonial de-induction of MiG-21, underscoring the jet’s stature as not just a war machine but a symbol of India’s air power through wars and decades of deterrence. Last month, Sharma had already flown alongside the IAF Chief during the aircraft’s final operational sortie at Bikaner.
The farewell event also brings back veterans from the MiG-21 era. Squadron Leader Subodh Dixit (Retd) has been called back to create the final salute for India’s first supersonic jet. On Friday, the world will witness his blueprint come to life with flawless formations of Jaguars, LCA Tejas, and the MiG-21.
The ceremony will witness a rare gathering of military leadership: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, CDS General Anil Chauhan, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, and six former IAF Chiefs – AY Tipnis, SP Tyagi, PV Naik, BS Dhanoa, S. Krishnaswamy, and RKS Bhadauria – all paying tribute to the jet that defined an era.
The symbolism is complete in Chandigarh, where the MiG-21 story in India first began. In April 1963, six MiG-21s, led by then Wing Commander Dilbagh Singh (later IAF Chief), touched down here, forming No. 28 Squadron, the “First Supersonics.”
On Friday, the No. 23 Squadron “Panthers” will stage the final aerial salute with a six-aircraft formation. After the last landing, the MiG-21 will receive a water cannon salute, closing its service in the same city where its Indian journey began.
A warrior, a workhorse, and for many a symbol of both pride and sacrifice – the MiG-21 will not just retire; it will take its place in history.
Team BharatShakti
