On September 26, 2025, the Indian Air Force (IAF) bid a ceremonial farewell to the iconic MiG-21 fighter jet after over six decades of service. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who was the chief guest at the event in Chandigarh—the city where the aircraft was first inducted—described the MiG-21 as a "mighty machine" and a symbol of national pride. He emphasized its role in strengthening India-Russia defense ties and its significant contribution to India's military aviation history.

The ceremony featured a flypast by Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, piloting the MiG-21 Bison with the call sign 'Badal 3'. Notable attendees included former IAF Chiefs A Y Tipnis, S P Tyagi, and B S Dhanoa, along with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and India's first man on the International Space Station. The event also honored Squadron Leader Priya Sharma, the last woman pilot to fly the MiG-21, marking a historic moment in the aircraft's legacy.

The MiG-21, India's first supersonic fighter jet, was inducted into the IAF in the 1960s. While it played a pivotal role in major conflicts such as the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan, the 1999 Kargil War, and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, it also faced criticism due to safety concerns over the years. The retirement of the MiG-21 marks the end of an era in Indian military aviation.