India retires its MiG-21 fighter jets on Sept. 26, 2025, ending a 62-year legacy.

The Indian Air Force will retire its MiG-21 “Bison” fighter jets on September 26, 2025, marking the end of a 62-year legacy. The final ceremony, held at Chandigarh Air Force Station—the same base where the jet was first inducted in 1963—will feature a symbolic flypast and decommissioning. The MiG-21, a Soviet-designed supersonic fighter, served in nearly every major conflict since the 1960s, including the 1971 war and 2019 Balakot airstrikes. Over 870 units were operated, evolving into a versatile multi-role platform despite a high accident rate that earned it nicknames like “flying coffin.” It is being replaced by the indigenous Tejas LCA. The event honors pilots and crews who flew the aircraft, with remaining jets preserved for museums and training.