New Delhi, November 6 — The Indian Air Force’s MiG-21, the country’s longest-serving fighter jet that was decommissioned in September after 62 years, is set to take to the skies again — this time as part of the IAF’s Heritage Flight.
Officials confirmed that a set of MiG-21 aircraft stationed in Nashik are being evaluated for inclusion in the heritage fleet, which flies vintage aircraft at commemorative events and air shows. “The MiG-21 holds a special place in our history — it deserves a place in the air, not just in museums,” a senior IAF officer said.
The IAF’s heritage wing, earlier called the Vintage Aircraft Flight, was established in 1988 at Air Force Station Palam. It was briefly suspended before being revived in 2012 and renamed the Heritage Flight. The current fleet includes three World War II-era aircraft — the de Havilland DH-82 Tiger Moth, the T-6G Harvard, and the Douglas C-47 Dakota.
Maintaining vintage aircraft remains a challenge, primarily due to aging engines and scarce spare parts. However, officials noted that the MiG-21’s domestic production offers a distinct advantage. “Since the MiG-21 and its engines were license-produced by HAL, an existing inventory of parts and maintenance protocols make its revival technically feasible,” the officer added.
The MiG-21 was formally decommissioned on September 26, 2025, at a ceremony held at Air Force Station Chandigarh — the same base where it was first inducted in 1963. The event marked the end of an era for the aircraft that participated in pivotal operations including the 1971 Bangladesh War, the 1999 Kargil conflict, and the 2019 Balakot airstrike.
Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman famously piloted a MiG-21 during the 2019 aerial engagement over the Line of Control.
Meanwhile, the IAF has received several requests from educational institutions, war memorials, and museums seeking to display decommissioned MiG-21 airframes. Airframes without engines or avionics are transferred through a multi-step process. Private institutions pay up to ₹30 lakh per airframe, while government museums and memorials receive them free of cost.
“The MiG-21 will remain a symbol of Indian air power for generations,” the officer said. “Its inclusion in the heritage flight is our way of keeping that spirit alive.”
