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India, Sept 26, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - India's Russian-built MiG-21s flew for the final time Friday, marking the end of an era for the country's first supersonic fighter jet -- lauded for its valour but tarnished by a legacy of some 400 crashes. Crowds cheered as officials staged a grand farewell for the final two MiG-21 squadrons, totalling around 36 aircraft, at an air force base in the northern city of Chandigarh. The send-off came a day after New Delhi signed a $7-billion deal to acquire 97 dome ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: India retired its last fleet of Soviet-era MiG-21 fighter jets on Friday (Sep 26), ending more than six decades of service with an aircraft once celebrated for its combat prowess but later derided as a "flying coffin" due to frequent crashes. The phaseout underscores the urgency for the Indian air force to expand and modernise its air fleet to counter potential threats on two fronts from its archrivals China and Pakistan. The decommissioning leaves the air force with 29 fighter squa ...Read More >
Chandigarh, Sep 26 (PTI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said the MiG-21 is not only an aircraft or a machine but a national pride, and a testimony to the deep ties between India and Russia. Noting that the over 60-year-old journey of the MiG-21 is unmatched, he said the mighty machine picked up the burden of the country's security on its wings for decades, and shaped "our confidence and strengthened our strategy". The defence minister was addressed a gathering at the decommissioning ...Read More >
Chandigarh [India], September 26 (ANI): Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on Friday said that the final farewell for the MiG21 was a befitting and dignified one and that he has fond memories of the iconic fighter aircraft with whom he had spent a "considerable amount of time." The astronaut was among those who witnessed the final flight of the iconic fighter jet at the Chandigarh Air Force base today. Speaking to ANI, Shukla said "I am happy to be here... I have spent a lot of time here and have ...Read More >
CHANDIGARH: The legendary Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 fighter jets, the the backbone of the Indian Air Force's combat fleet for more than six decades, streaked through Indian skies for the last time on Friday -- its final adieu threaded through history and many a remembrance. The sun shone bright, the skies were cloudless and a brilliant blue, providing a picture perfect setting for the elaborate farewell to the Russian origin warhorse that was inducted into the IAF in the 1960s. Describing the Mi ...Read More >
India signed a 623.70 billion rupee ($7 billion; €6 billion) contract with national aircraft manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) on Thursday to modernize its armed forces. The deal involves the acquisition of 97 Tejas Mk-1A fighter jets that would be made in India. "This contract reflects the trust and confidence of the government and the armed forces in the indigenously developed aircraft Tejas, which will be the mainstay of the [Indian Air Force] in the years to come," wrote India's Def ...Read More >
NEW DELHI (AP) -- India retired its last fleet of Soviet-era MiG-21 fighter jets Friday, ending more than six decades of service with an aircraft once celebrated for its combat prowess but later derided as a "flying coffin" due to frequent crashes. The phaseout underscores the urgency for the Indian air force to expand and modernize its air fleet to counter potential threats on two fronts from its archrivals China and Pakistan. The decommissioning leaves the air force with 29 fighter squadrons ...Read More >
NEW DELHI (AP) -- India retired its last fleet of Soviet-era MiG-21 fighter jets Friday, ending more than six decades of service with an aircraft once celebrated for its combat prowess but later derided as a "flying coffin" due to frequent crashes. The phaseout underscores the urgency for the Indian air force to expand and modernize its air fleet to counter potential threats on two fronts from its archrivals China and Pakistan. The decommissioning leaves the air force with 29 fighter squadrons ...Read More >
Chandigarh, Sep 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Chief of Air Force, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, on Friday took the last flight of the iconic fighter jet MIG-21 for the Chandigarh airbase as the aircraft fleet was decommissioned after defending the Indian skies for 62 years with its glorious history of shooting down planes of Pakistan in both the 1965 and 1971 wars. The Soviet-era fighter MiG-21 Bison had hit the headlines in 2019 when Group Captain (then Wing Commander) Abhinandan Varthaman scripted ...Read More >
Chandigarh [India], September 26 (ANI): After nearly six decades of service, the Indian Air Force on Friday retired its iconic MiG-21 fighter jet, which took its final sortie in a decommissioning ceremony held in Chandigarh in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The MiG-21 has long been the backbone of India's aerial might, representing the courage, precision, and resilience of generations of Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots. Also Read | Manmohan Singh Birth Anniversary 2025: Rahul Ga ...Read More >
Chandigarh [India], September 26 (ANI): Ahead of the decommissioning of the Indian Air Force's MiG-21 fighter aircraft in Chandigarh on Friday, Wing Commander Rajiv Battish (Retd.) termed the plane a "potent" one and an enigma for the Western Field. Speaking to ANI, Battish said that a large crowd gathering for the event to bid farewell to the aircraft reflected the sentiments of the people. "MiG-21 has a very long story and the fact that so many people have gathered here is the fact that we a ...Read More >
AFP | New Delhi Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com India yesterday signed a $7 billion order for 97 domestically designed and built Tejas fighter jets as its air force retires its outgoing Russian MiG-21 jets after decades of use. The first Tejas jets -- meaning "brilliance" in Hindi -- were commissioned into the airforce in 2016, with the latest commission for the fourth-generation version of the fighter, Mk-1A. India has made the modernisation of its forces a top priority, and made repeated ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: Hyderabad, already a major hub for India's defense manufacturing, from drones and missiles to fighter jet components, is preparing to script another milestone. Backed by the state government, T-Works is leading the development of next-generation Full Motion Flight Simulators designed for passenger aircraft, fighter jets, and helicopters. IT Minister D Sridhar Babu said this on Thursday, announcing that Axial Aero Private Limited, an IDEX winner and incubated at T-Works, is ready to ...Read More >
Chandigarh, September 26: It will be a memorable and emotional reunion in Chandigarh, the City Beautiful, where its first squadron was commissioned in 1963, on Friday, as the skies will roar to give 'final salute' to the Russian-made MiG-21 that was inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) almost six decades ago. It will be a memorable but emotional reunion in Chandigarh, the City Beautiful, where its first squadron was commissioned in 1963, on Friday, as the skies will roar to give 'final salut ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], September 26 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he will be in Chandigarh on Friday to attend the Indian Air Force MiG-21 decommissioning ceremony. Today, 26th September, I shall be in Chandigarh. Shall attend the Decommissioning ceremony of IAF MiG-21. Looking forward to it. In a post on X, Rajnath Singh wrote, Today, 26th September, I shall be in Chandigarh. Shall attend the Decommissioning ceremony of IAF MiG-21. Looking forward to it. After serving for six decade ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], September 26 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he will be in Chandigarh on Friday to attend the Indian Air Force's MiG-21 decommissioning ceremony. In a post on X, Rajnath Singh wrote, "Today, 26th September, I shall be in Chandigarh. Shall attend the Decommissioning ceremony of IAF's MiG-21. Looking forward to it." After serving for six decades, the iconic MiG-21 is going to retire today. The aircraft leaves behind a record of unmatched service and a legacy that w ...Read More >
Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 26 (ANI): Defence Expert Captain Anil Gaur (Retired) said the Rs 62,370 crore deal between the Ministry of Defence and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the procurement of 97 LCA Mk1A fighter jets is a 'big boost to Atmanirbharta'. Gaur said the move will address the Indian Air Force's fighter jet shortfall and will strengthen the indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem. Speaking to ANI on Thursday, Anil Gaur said, "The Ministry of Defence ...Read More >
Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 26 (ANI): Defence Expert Captain Anil Gaur (Retired) said the Rs 62,370 crore deal between the Ministry of Defence and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the procurement of 97 LCA Mk1A fighter jets is a big boost to Atmanirbharta. Gaur said the move will address the Indian Air Force fighter jet shortfall and will strengthen the indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem. Speaking to ANI on Thursday, Anil Gaur said, The Ministry of Defence has s ...Read More >
India is set to finalize a major deal with General Electric for fighter jet engines. The agreement is expected by October. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will receive the engines. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2027-28. HAL also secured a contract for LCA Mk1A jets. This boosts India's defense indigenization efforts. The deal supports the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. India is on track to finalise a significant deal with the US aerospace firm General Electric (GE) worth around USD 1 billion f ...Read More >
New Delhi, Sep 25: The defence ministry on Thursday sealed a Rs 62,370 crore deal with the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to procure 97 Tejas MK-1A light combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force. The signing of the contract came over a month after the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi green-lighted the mega procurement. The delivery of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) would commence in 2027-28 and the supplies will have to be completed over a period of ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: EC on Thursday revised the rules relating to counting of postal ballots, making it mandatory for all postal ballot papers to be counted before the penultimate round of EVM/VVPATs counting is taken up.The new practice will be first implemented in Bihar where assembly polls are due in Nov.This restores the arrangement prior to May 2019, when EC had changed the guidelines to allow EVM counting to proceed regardless of postal ballot counting stage. The 2019 change did not rule out chances ...Read More >
NEW DELHI, Sept 25: India on Thursday signed a $7 billion order for 97 domestically designed and built Tejas fighter jets as its air force retires its outgoing Russian MiG-21 jets after decades of use. The first Tejas jets -- meaning "brilliance" in Hindi -- were commissioned into the airforce in 2016, with the latest commission for the fourth-generation version of the fighter, Mk-1A. India, one of the world's largest arms importers, has made the modernisation of its forces a top priority, and ...Read More >
The year was 2000 or 2001. Another MiG-21 had fallen off the sky, and commentators were calling it flying coffin The chief was looking livid when we walked into the briefing room at the Air HQ. Pointing to a picture of a MiG-21 on the wall, he asked "You call this a flying coffin? You want me to junk it?" The year was 2000 or 2001. Another MiG-21 had fallen off the sky, and commentators were calling it flying coffin. "Take it from me -- I shall fly it; my successors shall fly it; we will fly i ...Read More >
India has already ordered 180 LCA Mark1A jets (Representational) ShowQuick Read Summary is AI-generated, newsroom-reviewed * Defence Ministry is reviewing IAF's proposal for 114 Made in India Rafale jets * The deal is worth over Rs 2 lakh crore with 60% indigenous content * Rafale fleet will reach 176 including 36 IAF and 36 Navy jets after the deal is completed Did our AI summary help? Let us know. Switch To Beeps Mode New Delhi: The Defence Ministry has received and started discussio ...Read More >
Chandigarh, Sep 13 (PTI) If Pakistan or terror organisations backed by it carry out any terror strike again, "our reply this time will be more severe" than before, Lt Gen Manoj Katiyar, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Command, said on Saturday, noting that Operation Sindoor is continuing. "Operation Sindoor was not only a fight but was also our preparation to counter any hostile attempt by Pakistan. Our readiness still continues. There is no stoppage in it," he told reporters ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Indian Air Force has submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Defence for the procurement of 114 "Made in India" Rafale fighter jets, officials said. The plan envisages joint production by French manufacturer Dassault Aviation and Indian aerospace firms, with around 60% indigenous components in the aircraft. Proposal Follows Rafale's Strong Showing in Operations Sources indicated that the decision was influenced by the Rafale's impressive performance during Operation Sindoor agai ...Read More >
New Delhi: Industry leaders welcomed the recently announced GST reforms, which reduce the number of tax slabs, stating that it will make tax compliance easier while also directly benefiting consumers through lower prices. Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce Joint Secretary Navjot Alang Rubal said that the reduction of the number of slabs from four to two under the new GST structure is a highly positive step. According to Rubal, this reform will greatly benefit the middle and lower-income groups as t ...Read More >
New Delhi: India's second indigenous aircraft carrier, after the INS Vikrant, is likely to be nuclear powered. This is part of a 15-year defence modernisation plan announced on Friday. The plan also envisages Indian-made fighter jets to be based on this aircraft carrier. India's strategic defence plans hinge upon indigenously built weapons systems that proved to be extremely effective during Operation Sindoor, the four-day conflict against Pakistan that followed the Pahalgam terror attack in J ...Read More >
The discussions come at a time when India and Russia have stepped up defence cooperation, even as the US has been pushing the F-35 platform and simultaneously raising trade-related issues with New Delhi. Russia is conducting studies to assess the investments required for manufacturing its Su-57 fifth-generation fighter aircraft in India amid growing strategic engagement with New Delhi, defence sources told ANI. India has indicated a requirement for at least two to three squadrons of fifth-gene ...Read More >
New Delhi: Amid growing bonhomie with New Delhi, Russia is carrying out studies to determine the level of investments that it would require to manufacture its Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet in India. India has stated that it has a requirement for at least two to three squadrons of fifth-generation fighter jets and the Russian Su-57 along with the American F-35 is a contender for the project. Indian public sector unit Hindustan Aeronautics Limited already licenses and manufactures the Russi ...Read More >
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