IAF to retire iconic fighter jets in September 2025

After more than six decades of service, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will finally retire its remaining MiG-21 fighter jets in September 2025, marking the end of an era in Indian military aviation.

First inducted in the early 1960s, the Russian-origin MiG-21s once formed the backbone of India’s air combat fleet. Over the decades, the IAF operated over 870 of these supersonic jets, using them in several key military operations and air defense roles. However, their long and chequered legacy has also been marred by frequent crashes and concerns over safety.

In October 2023, the MiG-21s participated for the last time in the IAF’s annual Air Force Day parade. That same month, the Air Force formalized a timeline to decommission the aircraft, with the phase-out now scheduled for completion in September 2025.

The retirement of the MiG-21s will coincide with the IAF’s strategic transition toward homegrown platforms. Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari had earlier confirmed that the outdated fighters would be replaced by the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mark-1A.

At a press briefing last year, he announced that a fresh contract to procure 97 additional Tejas jets — worth approximately ₹1.15 lakh crore — was in the final stages. This is in addition to the ₹48,000 crore contract already inked in 2021 with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for 83 Tejas Mark-1A fighters.

“We will replace the MiG-21 squadrons with the LCA Mark-1A. The induction of the Tejas jets will bridge the operational gap left by the retiring MiG-21s,” the Air Chief had stated.

The transition reflects not just a technological upgrade, but also a shift in India’s strategic posture — moving from dependence on Soviet-era platforms to an increasingly indigenous and modern air combat fleet.