Overview

• Air Chief Marshal A P Singh flew the final MiG-21 sortie with call sign Badal 3, leading No. 23 Squadron’s last flypast that ended with a water-cannon salute.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the aircraft as national pride and a symbol of deep India–Russia ties, with the Chief of Defence Staff and former air chiefs in attendance.
• The ceremony included Akash Ganga skydivers and Surya Kiran aerobatics, and featured Jaguar and Tejas aircraft in the program.
• More than 850 MiG-21s served since 1963 and saw action in the 1965 and 1971 wars, the 1999 Kargil conflict, and the 2019 Balakot operation.
• The retirement leaves the IAF at about 29 fighter squadrons versus a sanctioned 42, with Tejas Mk1A deliveries expected to begin in October.