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IAF JET Fighter Mig 21: In September 2025, the MiG-21 was being pushed out in the Indian Army in 1963. There is a very interesting story behind how MiG-21 joined the Indian Air Force.
Highlights
- In 1963, MiG-21 was part of the Indian Air Force.
- Technology was also transferred with MiG-21.
- MiG-21 is getting Phaseout from Indian Air Force in September 2025
Final deal with Soviet Union
Since in those days, America’s selfishness was being completed by showing bend towards Pakistan, it did not show much interest in the Deal of F-104. Similarly, France was not ready to transfer his Mirage’s technology. Finally, India’s deal with the Soviet Union was finalized and it was fully ready for technology transfer. With this deal, India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) also got a license to make MiG-21 in India.
This deal of India regarding MiG 21 proved to be very beneficial in many ways. MiG-21 was a fighter jet, whose design was not only easy, but also reliable and economical. Its special thing was that it was less expensive than the supersonic fighter jet present with Western countries. Its texture made it special in its texture, the strength of quick height and the ability to fly fast. Due to all these qualities, MiG-21 was recognized as a powerful interceptor.
India saved itself from America’s ‘trick’ and a very large trap by dealing with MiG-21. India realized this when the US F-104 fighter aircraft made its identity as the ‘The Widomer’ to make it a widow. The F-104 fighter jet of America, built in the 1950s, began to crash with all its flaws. Talking about Germany only, the German Air Force had lost more than 300 pilots in the crash due to F-104.
And thus India got its Jatayu
India got its first Jatayu in 1963. Then the six MiG-21 supersonic fighter aircraft reached Chandigarh in April 1963 before the Soviet Union and today’s Russia. These fighter jets were brought to Chandigarh via Bombay Equipment Depot via Agra. This aircraft was brought to different parts in Mumbai. After reaching Chandigarh, this aircraft was assembled by a team of Soviet engineers and their pilots trained it. After this, the MiG-21 was not only an integral part of the Indian Air Force, but also forced the enemy to chew iron gram in 1965, 1971 and Kargil War.
Anoop Kumar Mishra is Associated with News18 digital for the last 3 years and is working on the post of assistant editor. He writes on health, aviation and defense sector. He also covers development related to …Read more
Anoop Kumar Mishra is Associated with News18 digital for the last 3 years and is working on the post of assistant editor. He writes on health, aviation and defense sector. He also covers development related to … Read more
