Indian Air Force grounds entire fleet of MiG-21

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force has decided to ground the aging fleet of MiG-21 jet which have been involved in over 400 accidents since their inception.  The decision has been taken after two weeks of a  crash involving the Soviet-origin aircraft in Rajasthan in which three civilians were killed.

Defence sources told Defence Watch that the entire fleet of MiG-21 fighter aircraft has been grounded as the investigations into the May 8 crash are still on and the reason behind the crash is being probed. 

The MiG-21s used to be the mainstay of the IAF for a long period of time. After its induction in the early 1960s, the Indian Air Force procured over 700 MiG-21 fighters to boost its overall combat prowess. 

At present, the IAF has three MiG-21 squadrons with a total of around 50 aircraft. The IAF last year finalised a timeline of three years to phase out the remaining MiG-21 fighter squadrons. The plan to phase out the Soviet-origin aircraft fleet is part of the IAF's modernisation drive. 

In February 2021, the government sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the procurement of 83 Tejas jets. The IAF has already procured 36 Rafale jets to enhance its combat capabilities. The Air Force is also in the process of acquiring 114 Medium Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA).

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