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The Indian Air Force has confirmed that the MiG-21 Bison fighter aircraft of the No 4 squadron flew for the last time over the Uttarlai town in Barmer of Rajasthan and now will be replaced with indigenous fighter LCA-Mark-1A.
“Marking the end of an era, the MiG-21 Bison fighter aircraft of the No 4 squadron of the Indian Air Force flew for the last time over the Uttarlai town in Barmer, Rajasthan. On this occasion, the MiG-21 Bison flew alongside the Su-30 MKI: IAF officials The Indian Air Force is phasing out the MiG-21 squadrons and set to replace them with the indigenous LCA Mark-1A fighter jets”, as per ANI news agency.
Now Indian Air Force has only one MiG-21 Bison squadron left in service.
It need be mentioned that IAF is fast approaching indigenization and making purchases of more and more domestic platforms to be self-reliant but also controller of the defence tech which hardly any other country shares or sells.
India is also looking to retire number of foreign made fighter jets and replace them with indigenous medium combat fighters for the long term. India, has though, opted to make purchase of Rafale both for Air Force and Navy, as a stop gap measure to continue having deterrence posture towards China and Pakistan.
