Indian Air Force Grounds MiG-21 Fleet Amid Safety Concerns & Probe Into Crash

Jaipur: Following a recent crash involving a MiG-21 jet over Rajasthan, which resulted in the loss of three lives, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has made the decision to ground its ageing fleet of Soviet-origin aircraft. These aircraft have been involved in over 400 accidents since their induction, prompting the need for further investigation into the May 8 crash, according to reliable government sources.

For a significant period, the MiG-21s served as a cornerstone of the IAF’s operations. Since their induction in the early 1960s, the IAF acquired more than 700 MiG-21 fighters to bolster their combat capabilities.

Presently, the IAF operates three MiG-21 squadrons with approximately 50 aircraft. As part of the IAF’s ongoing modernization efforts, a plan was devised last year to phase out the remaining MiG-21 fighter squadrons within three years.

To support the modernization drive, the IAF has already procured 36 Rafale jets and finalized a deal worth Rs 48,000 crore with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in February 2021 for the procurement of 83 Tejas jets. Furthermore, the IAF is in the process of acquiring 114 Medium Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA).

It is also noteworthy to mention that in December 2021, General Bipin Rawat, India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, along with his wife Madhulika and 11 other armed forces personnel, tragically lost their lives in a Mi-17VH helicopter crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.