The roar of the MiG-21, once synonymous with India’s air power, will echo for the final time on September 26, 2025, when the Indian Air Force (IAF) stages a ceremonial farewell over Chandigarh. With that flight, the world’s longest-serving MiG-21 fleet will retire, closing a 60-year chapter in Indian aviation history.

The aircraft that earned nicknames ranging from “Sabre Slayer” in 1971 to “Flying Coffin” in its later years leaves behind a mixed legacy of glory, grit, and loss. As India bids farewell to its last two MiG-21 Bison squadrons -No 3 “Cobra” Squadron and No. 23 “Panthers” Squadron – the inevitable questions remain: What happens to the aircraft, their squadrons, and the pilots who flew them?

What Happens to the MiG-21 Jets After Retirement?

The remaining MiG-21 Bisons wi

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