Overview

• Air Chief Marshal A P Singh flew the final ceremonial sortie under the call sign “Badal 3” as No. 23 Squadron (Panthers) led the last formation flights.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the MiG-21 as a mighty machine and a national pride, calling it a symbol of deep India–Russia ties.
• Six decades of service spanned major operations from the 1965 and 1971 wars to Kargil in 1999 and the 2019 Balakot episode, with more than 870 aircraft inducted.
• Parliamentary records cite over 400 crashes between 1971–72 and April 2012 that killed more than 170 pilots and 39 civilians, fueling a long-running safety debate.
• With the last MiG-21s decommissioned, the IAF counts 29 combat squadrons against a sanctioned 42, and Tejas Mk1/Mk1A jets are slated to assume roles, with Mk1A deliveries expected to begin in October.