Another squadron of MiG-21 Bison fighter aircraft was phased out, bringing the active number of squadrons to two.
The Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter squadron replaced the MiG-21 Bison squadron in a ceremony held at Uttarlai Air Force Station in Barmer, Rajasthan.
During the ceremony, both the Su-30MKI and the Mig-21 Bison fighters fly past in the skies of Barmer.
The No. 4 Squadron (Orioles) of the Indian Air Force based at Uttarlai has been operating MiG-21 Bison fighters since 1966.
The Indian Air Force aims to phase out all squadrons of MiG-21 Bison by 2025.
In 1963, during the reign of then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the first supersonic fighter aircraft, the MiG-21 was inducted into the Indian Air Force’s service.
Since its induction, the MiG-21 has participated in all major conflicts including the India-Pakistan wars of 1965, 1971 and the Kargil conflict of 1999.
The MiG-21 is a single-engine fighter aircraft that has also served as the backbone of the Indian Air Force for more than 40 years.
