End of the Flying Coffin: India Retires MiG-21 After 400 Crashes and 200 Pilot Deaths

India’s iconic yet controversial MiG-21 fighter jet—long nicknamed the “flying coffin” due to its alarming safety record—is finally being retired after over six decades in service, with the Indian Air Force (IAF) confirming its full phase-out by September 2025.

Currently, around 36 MiG-21 Bison jets remain in operation, assigned to two squadrons stationed at Nal Air Base in Rajasthan—marking the final chapter in what was once the backbone of India’s supersonic air dominance.

The decision to retire the Soviet-era MiG-21 comes amid rising public and institutional pressure over the aircraft’s safety record, which includes more than 400 documented crashes and the loss of over 170 IAF pilots since its induction.

“The Indian Air Force will fully phase out the MiG-21 fighter jets by September this year,” a senior Indian defence official confirmed.

“At present, the squadrons operating the aircraft are based at Nal Air Base in Rajasthan. The LCA Tejas Mark 1A will replace the MiG-21 in IAF service,” the official added.

The Tejas LCA Mark 1A, an indigenous multi-role light combat aircraft developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), represents the Indian government’s flagship defence modernization drive under the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (Self-Reliant India) initiative.

HAL has confirmed that the Indian Air Force will receive at least six Tejas Mark 1A fighters by March 2026, despite earlier concerns raised by the IAF Chief regarding delivery delays.

The retirement of the MiG-21 marks not only the end of an aircraft’s operational life, but also a strategic pivot for India towards homegrown defence production and next-generation aerial combat capability.

Introduced into service in 1963, the MiG-21 was India’s first supersonic combat jet, ushering the nation into a new era of aerial warfare during the Cold War.

Although its role in the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War was limited, the MiG-21 later proved pivotal in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, the 1999 Kargil War, and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes against terrorist camps in Pakistan.

During the Balakot mission, a MiG-21 Bison was shot down by Pakistan, leading to the high-profile capture of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman—an incident that made international headlines before his release days later.

Despite its combat legacy, the MiG-21’s safety record has become an enduring point of controversy.

Of the nearly 900 MiG-21s that entered IAF service over six decades, more than 400 have crashed, resulting in the deaths of at least 170–200 pilots and around 60 civilians, making it one of the deadliest platforms in modern military aviation history.

Its ageing design, limited survivability in modern air combat, and outdated avionics have made it increasingly obsolete in a regional landscape that now includes advanced aircraft like China’s J-20 stealth fighters and Pakistan’s JF-17 Block III equipped with AESA radars and long-range PL-15 missiles.

Technically, the MiG-21 Bison is powered by a single Tumansky R-25-300 turbojet engine, delivering 69.62 kN of thrust with afterburner.

It can reach speeds of Mach 2.05 (approx. 2,175 km/h), climb at 225 meters per second, and operate at altitudes up to 17,500 meters.

However, its combat radius is limited to 370–580 km, extendable to around 1,500 km with drop tanks, placing it well behind modern multi-role fighters in terms of operational reach.

Armed with a 23mm GSh-23L cannon and up to 2,000 kg of payload—including R-60 and R-73 air-to-air missiles, rockets, and unguided bombs—the MiG-21 Bison is equipped with Kopyo pulse-doppler radar, Helmet Mounted Sight (HMS), and a basic EW suite.

Yet even with mid-life upgrades, its survivability against fourth and fifth-generation threats remains low.

In contrast, the incoming Tejas Mark 1A offers superior manoeuvrability, reduced radar cross-section, digital fly-by-wire control, and modern avionics including the EL/M-2052 AESA radar, onboard electronic warfare systems, and compatibility with long-range Astra BVR missiles.

Tejas also features a composite airframe that reduces weight and enhances agility, while being powered by the reliable GE F404-IN20 engine.

It is capable of speeds up to Mach 1.6 and has an operational range of up to 1,850 km, depending on mission loadout.

The aircraft supports smart weapons, precision-guided munitions, and advanced targeting pods, enabling multi-role capabilities across air superiority, ground strike, and maritime operations.

HAL has been awarded a contract worth approximately USD 6.7 billion (about RM31.2 billion) for 83 Tejas Mark 1A jets, with full induction planned over the next five years.

This massive investment marks India’s most significant leap in domestic aerospace capability since independence.

Strategically, the shift from MiG-21 to Tejas coincides with a growing airpower contest in the Indo-Pacific, where China is expanding its stealth fleet, and regional powers like Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia are acquiring modern fighters to counterbalance Beijing’s assertiveness.

India’s reliance on Tejas will not only enhance its defensive posture but also signal its intent to export indigenous platforms to friendly nations, with Malaysia, Egypt, and Argentina previously identified as potential buyers.

As the MiG-21 finally exits India’s operational inventory, it leaves behind a legacy marked by both triumph and tragedy.

Its retirement closes a complex but defining chapter in Indian airpower history—one built on Cold War urgency, postcolonial ambition, and battlefield necessity.

With the Tejas Mark 1A preparing to take its place, India is not merely replacing a fighter jet—it is reaffirming its place among nations capable of designing, building, and deploying advanced combat aircraft tailored to the threats of the 21st century.

From flying coffin to fighting phoenix, India’s airpower transformation is well underway—and the skies ahead are indigenously defined.