Why in News?
The Indian Air Force will retire its MiG-21 Bison fighter jets in September 2025 after over six decades of service. A ceremonial send-off is planned at Chandigarh airbase, with Tejas Mk1A expected to replace the ageing fleet.
Description:
- Origin:
- First supersonic fighter in the Indian Air Force (IAF).
- Inducted in 1963.
- Designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau (OKB) of the Soviet Union.
- Deployment & Numbers:
- Over 800 variants of MiG-21 inducted by IAF over the decades.
- Known for being the backbone of the IAF for several decades.
- Current Operational Squadrons (as of 2025):
- Two MiG-21 Bison squadrons remain:
- No. 3 Squadron ‘Cobras’ – based in Bikaner.
- No. 23 Squadron ‘Panthers’ – based in Suratgarh.
- Both squadrons will be phased out by 2025.
- Two MiG-21 Bison squadrons remain:
MiG-21 Bison – Upgraded Variant
- MiG-21 Bison is the upgraded version of the MiG-21bis.
- MiG-21bis was first inducted into the IAF in 1976.
- The first MiG-21 Bison was received by IAF in 2001, and the last in 2008.
- The upgrade improved:
- Avionics
- Radar systems
- Weapons capabilities (including BVR – Beyond Visual Range missiles).
Earlier Versions:
- MiG-21 FL:
- An earlier variant of the MiG-21 series.
- Inducted in 1963.
- Phased out in 2013.
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:
â—‰ YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@CivilsPrepTeam
â—‰ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaExcellenceIAS
â—‰ 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
