MiG-21s to retire by September

Why in the News?

The Indian Air Force’s longest-serving combat aircraft, the Russian-origin MiG (Mikoyan and Gurevich)-21, is set to be phased out by September 2025.

About MiG-21:

Type: Single-engine, single-seater, multi-role fighter and ground attack aircraft.
Origin: Originally inducted as an interceptor; later upgraded for multi-role capabilities.
Key Indian Variants: Type-77, Type-96, MiG-21 BIS and MiG-21 Bison (most advanced variant with upgraded radar, avionics, and missile systems).
Safety Concerns:
- High accident rate, especially in recent decades.
- Earned the nickname “flying coffin” due to frequent crashes and pilot fatalities.
Combat Features:
- Performance: Known for high speed, agility, and rapid climb capability.
- Armament: Capable of deploying both air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles.
- War Record: Played key roles in- 1965 War with Pakistan; 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War; 1999 Kargil Conflict.
Notable Operation: In 2019, a MiG-21 Bison piloted by Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman shot down a Pakistani F-16 during aerial combat.

- Timeline: Inducted into the Indian Air Force in 1963 during tensions with China and Pakistan.
- Assembly: First units assembled in India at Chandigarh with Soviet assistance.
- Scale: Over 700 MiG-21s were procured, forming the backbone of the Indian Air Force for decades.

- Current Status: As of now, three MiG-21 Bison squadrons remain, each with 16–18 aircraft.
- Replacement: To be replaced by the indigenously developed Tejas Mark-1A aircraft.

Type: Indian single-engine, fourth-generation, multirole light fighter aircraft.
R&D: Designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency in collaboration with the Aircraft Research and Design Centre of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
Origins: Developed under the Light Combat Aircraft programme launched in the 1980s to replace India’s ageing MiG-21 fleet.
Indigenous Content:
- By Value: 59.7% of the aircraft’s components are sourced indigenously.
- By Units: 75.5% of the line replaceable units are domestically produced.

[UPSC 2024] Consider the following aircraft:

1. Rafael 2. MiG-29 3. Tejas MK-1

How many of the above are considered fifth generation fighter aircraft?

Options: (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None*