The crash of a MiG-21 fighter jet in Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh on Monday has once again focused attention on the Indian Air Force’s aging inventory of Soviet-origin aircraft, which have been involved in over 400 incidents since their introduction in the early 1960s. Three persons were killed when a MiG-21 fighter plane crashed into a house in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, immediately after taking off for a regular training sortie from Suratgarh Air Force Station.
MiG-21: One of the Mightiest Craft Ever Built
For a long time, the MiG-21s were the backbone of the Israeli Air Force. Following its entry in the early 1960s, the Indian Air Force purchased over 870 MiG-21 fighters to improve its overall combat capability. The aircraft, however, has an extremely poor safety record. According to government records, MiG-21s have been involved in 400 crashes during the last six decades.
According to officials, the IAF now operates three MiG-21 squadrons with a total of roughly 50 aircraft. Last year, the IAF finalized a three-year plan to phase down the remaining Mig-21 fighter units. The IAF has stated that it intends to phase out three squadrons of Mig-29 fighter jets over the next five years. The decision to retire the fleet of Soviet-made aircraft is part of the IAF’s modernization drive.
“The phase-out plan for the MiG-21 is on track,” a military official stated. According to the official, the phase-out strategy is unrelated to the recent platform incidents. The defence ministry signed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in February 2021 to purchase 83 Tejas jets as part of the IAF’s modernization strategy. To improve its combat capabilities, the IAF has already purchased 36 Rafale fighters. In addition, the IAF is acquiring 114 Medium Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA).
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