The deafening roar of the Mikoyan-Gurevich Mig-21 FL afterburner, an iconic delta-wing fighter aircraft that heralded the ‘supersonic era’ in Indian Air Force (IAF) will not be heard after December 11, 2013, the day it really is set to fly into the annals of military aviation history.
Four Mig-21 FL aircraft flown by pilots from the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU), last abode of the venerable jets, will fly a ‘box formation’ as Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne takes salute on the ceremonial parade to bid them adieu.
Formations of Mig-27 ML and Sukhoi-30 MKI may also flypast the parade square in reverence to the legend of a fighter jet that continues to be the foremost widely exploited platform in IAF history. It also saw action within the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971.
Being limited in numbers, the Mig-21s played a restricted role inside the 1965 war. They, however, played a vital role within the 1971 war giving IAF the air superiority over vital points and areas within the western theatre.
In the primary ever supersonic air combat that ensued over the sub-continent in 1971, an Indian Mig-21 FL claimed a PAF F-104 Starfighter with its internal twin-barrelled guns alone.
By end of the hostilities the IAF Mig-21s had claimed four Pakistani F-104s, two F-6s, one F-86 Sabre and a Lockheed C-130 Hercules.
The pin-point accurate attack at the Governor’s House at Dhaka by IAF pilots flying the Mig-21s proved to be a turning point inside the war forcing the adversary to barter an eventual surrender.
The Mig-21 was also fielded inside the Kargil war. It was often the primary selection of commanders because it provided unmatched flexibility due its unique attributes of high agility, fast acceleration and quick turn-around.
The versatility of all of the Mig-21 variants have immensely shaped the IAF operational philosophy for many years. The pilots, engineers and technicians who flew and maintained the Mig-21 has been strong proponents of its exceptional combat worthiness.
Besides accomplishing major operational feats, the Mig-21 also ushered a revolutionary enhancement inside the technological and manufacturing capabilities of our indigenous aerospace industry.
With the phasing out of the Mig-21 FL, an era of relentless performance, precision deliverance and intimidating performance will even come to an end.
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