Air Force took a commendable decision by banning MiG-21 fighter jets which became coffins of death.

The Indian Air Force has temporarily grounded the entire fleet of MiG-21 fighter aircraft. In view of the frequent accidents, the Air Force has taken this decision. A MiG-21 aircraft during a routine training sortie crashed on houses in a populated area near Suratgarh in Rajasthan on 8 May. 3 women lost their lives in that accident. The Air Force has grounded the entire fleet of MiG-21 fighter jets till the investigation into the accident in Rajasthan is complete.

The MiG-21 fighter aircraft, which are called the flying coffins of death, have come to be known as the Flying Coffin and Widow Maker because of the frequent crashes. For this reason, there has been a demand to take them out of the army permanently. According to a report, more than 400 MiG-21 aircraft of the Indian Air Force have crashed in the last 60 years. In which more than 200 pilots and 63 civilians have lost their lives. At present, the Air Force has three squadrons of MiG-21 Bison. Those will be phased out from the Air Force in early 2025.

The MiG-21 was inducted into the Indian Air Force in the 1960s. At one time it was among the most powerful fighter jets in the world. Countries like America were also afraid of its high speed and firepower. This is the only fighter aircraft that has been used in more than 60 countries around the world. So far 11 thousand 496 units of this fighter aircraft have been manufactured. The MiG-21 is the first supersonic jet aircraft in aviation history. It was the best selling fighter plane in the world in the seventies.

The MiG-21 is the same fighter plane from which Wing Commander Abhinandan of the Indian Air Force shot down Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jet. Although his MiG-21 aircraft also crashed. Apart from this, the MiG-21 played an important role in the 1971 and 1999 Kargil wars with Pakistan. The MiG-21 Bison fighter jet is now being used only as an interceptor. They are used mostly for training exercises with a limited role as fighter jets. This aircraft is capable of attacking with aircraft short range and medium range aircraft missiles. The speed of this fighter aircraft is 2229 kilometers per hour.

The Soviet Air Force, which made the MiG-21 fighter aircraft, removed it from its air force in 1985 itself. Bangladesh and Afghanistan also removed it from service after 1985. In India too, his retirement period was completed in the mid-1990s. Despite this, they are being upgraded. In October 2014, the then Air Force Chief had said that the delay in decommissioning the old aircraft posed a threat to India’s security, as some of the aircraft in the Air Force fleet were too old.

The Indian Air Force had to keep the MiG 21 aircraft in service for a long time due to the delay in inducting the new fighter aircraft. The IAF is faced with the crunch of maintaining a certain number of squadron strength to defend India’s skies. The delay in the indigenous Tejas programme, the political controversy over the Rafale deal and the slow-moving procurement process have resulted in the MiG-21s being kept in service longer than usual.

In July 2022, the Indian Air Force prepared a three-year action plan to phase out all remaining MiG-21 fighter squadrons. Out of which one squadron is due to retire in September. At one point of time, the MiG-21 aircraft with all its variants formed the backbone of the fighter aircraft fleet of the Indian Air Force. At the same time, the number of accidents in the Air Force was also the highest among MiG-21 aircraft.

The Indian Air Force was flying MiG-21 fighter jets under compulsion. The Indian Air Force needs 42 squadrons of fighter jets to fight a two-front war with Pakistan and China. But India currently has only 32 squadrons. Which also includes three squadrons of MiG-21. The main reason for the shortage of fighter jets with the Indian Air Force is the non-purchase of fighter jets for a long time. In 2016, two squadrons of aircraft were procured from France.

Orders have been placed with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to buy 83 units of indigenous fighter aircraft Tejas made in India. Whose supply will take time now. In such a situation, the Air Force needs fighter planes to meet the immediate requirements. India has invited global bids for the purchase of 114 fighter jets. The Government of India will spend more than one lakh crore rupees on the purchase of these multirole fighter aircraft. American, French and Swedish aircraft manufacturers are in the running to bag the deal. From next year, indigenous fighter aircraft Tejas will start getting to the Air Force. Due to which it is expected that in the coming four-five years, the Indian Air Force will have more than 40 squadrons.

In our country, the process of procurement of planes and helicopters for the Air Force is slow. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh had earlier announced that 12 Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter jets and 21 MiG 29 aircraft damaged in various accidents would soon be procured and handed over to the IAF to restore their fleet strength. But even this deal is still going on at the negotiation stage. Had the above deal been completed on time, the Indian Air Force would have got 33 more fighter aircraft.

The Air Force has taken a commendable decision by stopping the flights of MiG-21 fighter jets. In the coming days, due to the accident of MiG-21 fighter planes, where the pilots were losing their lives, there was a possibility of loss to the common people as well. The way a MiG-21 aircraft fell on a house in a village near Suratgarh in Rajasthan, killing 3 women. It was a matter of gratitude that the pilot tried to take the plane away from the dense population. Due to which a major accident was avoided. Due to such accidents, it would be good for the country and the army if the MiG-21 is kept on the ground as far as possible.

Ramesh Saraf Dhamora

(The author is a freelance journalist accredited by the Government of Rajasthan. His articles continue to be published in many newspapers of the country.)