MiG 21 fighter jets to retire after 62 years of service, Tejas Mk1A to take over

Defence officials said on Tuesday, 22 July, that the Indian Air Force will phase out its MiG-21 fighter jet aircraft by September 2025, after 62 years of service. They also stated that the jets will be replaced by the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark 1A. The squadrons currently operating the MiG-21s are based at the Nal Air Force Station in Rajasthan.

A defence official said, “Indian Air Force to phase out the MiG-21 fighter jet by September this year. The squadrons operating the aircraft are currently in Nal air base in Rajasthan. The LCA Mark 1A aircraft would be replacing the MiG-21s in the IAF.”

ABOUT MiG 21

1. The MiG-21, India’s first-ever supersonic jet, was inducted into the Air Force in 1963 under a deal with the former Soviet Union.
2. The aircraft has had limited use in the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war, but was subsequently used in the 1999 Kargil War and 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
3. The aircraft was also used during the 2019 Balakot airstrike against terrorist camps in Pakistan.
4. The present Air Force Chief of Air Staff, AP Singh, also flew the MiG 21 aircraft recently. Also Read | Bangladesh jet crash: How China’s F-7 fighters — born from Soviet MiG-21, are facing scrutiny?

In October 2023, Number 4 Squadron, known as the "Oorials" of the IAF, based at Air Force Station Uttarlai (Barmer), Rajasthan, decommissioned its MiG 21 and Su-30 MKI, marking a watershed moment in the squadron's history. The squadron had been operating the MiG-21 since 1966.

Earlier in July 2025, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was handed over the first set of wing assemblies for Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A, produced by Larsen & Toubro, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Defence.

Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar attended the event virtually, while General Manager (LCA Tejas Division) M Abdul Salam received the assemblies on behalf of HAL from the Precision Manufacturing & Systems Complex unit of L&T.

(With agency inputs)