India Retires MiG-21 Jets After Six Decades of Service

India has retired its iconic MiG-21 fighter jets after more than six decades of service, marking the end of an era for a key aircraft that was central to the Indian Air Force's combat capability. The retirement ceremony at Chandigarh Air Base featured final flights and flypasts, commemorating the MiG-21's legacy as a "bird of all seasons" that played significant roles in conflicts from the 1971 war to the Balakot airstrike. India was the first non-communist country to induct the MiG-21, later producing hundreds under license, which helped develop the domestic aerospace industry and paved the way for indigenous projects like the LCA-Tejas. Despite its valour and pivotal combat history, the MiG-21 was also notorious for a poor safety record and numerous fatal crashes, earning it a reputation as a "flying coffin." The retirement comes amid India's ongoing efforts to modernize its air force, including a recent $7 billion deal for domestically built Tejas jets, though it raises concerns about current combat aircraft shortages. The MiG-21's legacy shapes both India's military history and its future defense ambitions, symbolizing a transition from Soviet-era platforms to advanced indigenous technology.