Why in News?
The Indian Air Force will retire its legendary MiG-21 fighter jets on 26 September 2025, ending nearly six decades of service. Inducted in 1963 as India’s first supersonic fighter, the “warhorse” played key roles from 1965 to Balakot operations.
Description:
General Features:
- Type: Supersonic jet fighter aircraft.
- Designed by: Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau (OKB), Soviet Union.
- First inducted (IAF): 1963 → India’s first supersonic jet fighter.
- License Production: 657 built by HAL under Russian license.
- Global Production: 2nd most produced jet aircraft in history.
- NATO reporting name: Fishbed.
- Nicknames:
- Balalaika (shape resembles instrument).
- Ołówek (“pencil” in Polish).
- Én Bạc (“silver swallow” in Vietnamese).
Operational History in India:
- Participated in every major conflict since 1963:
- 1965 & 1971 Indo-Pak wars.
- 1999 Kargil War.
- 2019 Balakot Airstrikes.
- Operation Sindoor (recent).
- Known as the “backbone of IAF” for decades.
Significance:
- Saw more combat than any other fighter in history.
- Provided India with air superiority capability during crucial decades.
- Despite age, still used in limited roles.
La Excellence IAS Academy, the best IAS coaching in Hyderabad, known for delivering quality content and conceptual clarity for UPSC 2025 preparation.
FOLLOW US ON:
◉ YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@CivilsPrepTeam
◉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaExcellenceIAS
◉ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laexcellenceiasacademy/
GET IN TOUCH:
Contact us at info@laex.in, https://laex.in/contact-us/
or Call us @ +91 9052 29 2929, +91 9052 99 2929, +91 9154 24 2140
OUR BRANCHES:
Head Office: H No: 1-10-225A, Beside AEVA Fertility Center, Ashok Nagar Extension, VV Giri Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad, 500020
Madhapur: Flat no: 301, survey no 58-60, Guttala begumpet Madhapur metro pillar: 1524, Rangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 500081
Bangalore: Plot No: 99, 2nd floor, 80 Feet Road, Beside Poorvika Mobiles, Chandra Layout, Attiguppe, Near Vijaya Nagara, Bengaluru, 560040
