MiG-21 fighter jets: How are the MiG-21 fighter jets being phased out?

Source: The post is based on the article “MiG-21 fighter jets: How are the MiG-21 fighter jets being phased out?” published in “Indian Express” on 10th November 2023

Why in the News?

MiG-21 fighter jets of the No. 4 squadron ‘OORIALS’ of the Indian Air Force (IAF) flew one last time over Uttarlai in Rajasthan.

What is MiG-21?

MiG-21 is India’s longest-serving fighter plane.

It is a single engine, single-seater multirole fighter/ground attack aircraft.

Designed by: Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau (OKB) of the erstwhile Soviet Union.

Inducted in: 1963. Since then, India has procured over 700 MiG-21 aircraft of different variations. 

– The latest of these was the MiG-21 Bison, which is an upgraded aircraft with advanced missiles and radars and better avionics.

What are the important roles the MiG-21 played?

1965 Indo-Pak War: MiG-21 had memorable encounters with the Pakistan Air Force.

1971 Bangladesh Liberation War: Flying Officer Jayendra Sukrut Raj shot down a Pakistani plane in East Pakistan.

Balakot Air Strikes: MiG-21 received tremendous coverage in 2019 when Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, piloting the aircraft, shot down a F-16 fighter of Pakistan a day after India had carried out the Balakot air strikes.

What will replace MiG-21 aircraft?

Current Fleet: IAF has inducted two squadrons of LCA Tejas. Two squadrons of Rafale fighter jets from France have been added.

– As of now, the Indian Air Force has 31 squadrons, against the 42 mandated by the government.

LCA Tejas Procurement: In 2021, IAF signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for 83 LCA Mk1A. Deliveries are expected to begin from early 2024.

Ongoing Developments: Larger LCA-Mk2 and fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) are under development. These aircraft will take time to be available in significant numbers.

UPSC Syllabus: Science and Technology (Defence)