Why in the news?

• MiG-21 jets fly into history after 6 decades of service in Indian forces.

MiG-21 Fighter

• What is it?
  • The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a Soviet-origin supersonic jet fighter.
  • First inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 1963, it became the backbone of India’s combat fleet for decades.
  • Nicknamed “Flying Coffin” or “Widow Maker” due to high accident rates in later years.
• Features
  • Type: Supersonic jet fighter and interceptor aircraft.
  • Speed: Capable of flying at Mach 2 (twice the speed of sound).
  • Design: Lightweight, delta-wing design with simple structure.
  • Production in India: Licensed production by HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited).
  • Variants in IAF: MiG-21FL, MiG-21M, MiG-21Bis, MiG-21 Bison (last upgraded version).
• Role in Indian Defence: Part of 1965 and 1971 Indo – Pak war, Kargil War (1999) and Operation Sindoor.