‘MiG-21 more than an Aircraft’: Rajnath Singh calls the jet a symbol of strong India-Russia ties

Rajnath Singh calls MiG-21 more than an Aircraft: As India bids farewell to MIG-21, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has paid tribute to the iconic fighter jet. He called to describe it as more than just an aircraft. 

Recalling its contribution in war with Pakistan, Rajnath Singh said, "Who can forget the 1971 war. During the war with Pakistan, in adverse circumstances, the MiG-21 attacked the Governor's House in Dhaka, and on that very day, it outlined the result of that war.''

In his X post, Rajnath Singh wrote, ''Takig to his X, he wrote, "Who can forget the 1971 war. During the war with Pakistan, in adverse circumstances, the MiG-21 attacked the Governor's House in Dhaka, and on that very day, it outlined the result of that war. Besides this, in its long history, there have been many such occasions when the MiG-21 proved its decisive capacity. Whenever there have been historic missions, every time the MiG-21 has enhanced the honour of the tricolour. Therefore, this farewell is also of our collective memories, of our national pride, and of that journey in which the story of courage, sacrifice, and excellence has been written."

Describing MiG-21’s record and misconceptions about the jet’s age

Further talking about the misconceptions about MiG-21’s age, he added, “It is often said that the Indian Air Force was flying 60-year-old MiG-21s. Let me clarify: the aircraft that entered service in the 1960s and 1970s have long been retired. The jets we flew until now were at most 40 years old. A 40-year lifetime is normal for such fighter jets, and in many countries, that’s exactly how long they are kept active.”

Regular technical upgrade of MiG-21

He continued to highlight the regular technical upgrade of MiG-21 that kept it relevant and said, “What makes the MiG-21 special is that it has always been modernized. The versions we flew, known as Trishul, Vikram, Badal, and Bison, were continuously updated with advanced radars and avionics. I also appreciate Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for fulfilling this crucial role.”