Indian Air Force fighter aircraft MiG-21
Indian Air Force fighter aircraft MiG-21
News2News.in Explainer:The MiG-21 fighter aircraft has been in service with the Indian Air Force since the 1960s. After the plane crash in Rajasthan on May 8, the Indian Air Force has banned the flight of MiG-21. According to the Air Force, this ban has been imposed on all MiG-21 aircraft. The Indian Air Force is working to phase out the MiG 21s from its fleet. In the coming 2 years, the Indian Air Force will completely remove this aircraft. At present, the MiG 21 will not be able to fly till the investigation of Rajasthan accident is completed.
when did the accident happen
In the same month, on May 8, a MiG-21 Bison aircraft took off from Suratgarh airbase in Rajasthan and shortly after take-off, the MiG-21 fighter jet crashed over Hanumangarh. In this accident, the pilot survived safely, but three other people died. In the last few years, MiG aircraft are becoming victims of accidents again and again. For this reason, the entire fleet of MiG-21 aircraft is being investigated. The main objective of this investigation is to find out the cause of the accident involving these aircraft. The flight of the MiG-21 has been grounded till the investigation is completed and the exact cause of the accident is ascertained.
was involved in the 1960s
This aircraft was manufactured by the Mikoyan Company of Russia around the year 1955, which was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 1963. A squadron of the Indian Air Force consists of 16 to 18 aircraft. There are 3 squadrons of MiG-21 in the country. Thus, around 50 MiG-21s are currently in service, which are to be retired by 2025. MiG-21 is a single engine and single seater fighter aircraft. It was later upgraded with attack features.
Strong performance of MiG-21
This fighter jet has played an important role in the victory of the Indian Army in many wars since 1960. Be it the Kargil war or the 1971 war, this aircraft has made India taste victory on every front. In the 1971 war, the MiG-21 fighter aircraft wreaked havoc on the east and west fronts of India. In this battle, the MiG-21 destroyed 13 upgraded fighter planes of the Pakistani Army. At the same time, the MiG-21 played an important role in the Kargil war as well. The MiG-21 and its upgraded version played an important role in India’s victory by causing a lot of damage to Pakistan.
- During the Balakot strike, Wing Commander Abhinandan was flying the MiG-21 and shot down an F-16 aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force.
- The MiG-21 fighter aircraft has been involved in more than 200 accidents since its induction into the Indian Air Force fleet in the early 1960s.
- MiG-21 is the only fighter aircraft, which has been used by about 60 countries around the world.
Tejas will replace MiG-21
The indigenous fighter aircraft Tejas will be replaced by retiring the MiG-21. Let us tell you that last year, the Air Force has ordered 83 Tejas aircraft to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under a deal of 48 thousand crores. However, there is still a lot of time left for their delivery.
Apart from this, Jaguar, Mirage-2000 aircraft of the Air Force will also be retired after some time. To meet this shortfall, the Air Force is planning to buy 114 fighter jets under the MRFA deal worth about Rs 1 lakh crore.
