Military aircraft can have notoriously short lifespans, especially during periods of technological ferment. The most elite aircraft of World War I could become obsolete in a matter of months. Things ...

Compared to contemporaries like the American F-4 Phantom II, the MiG-21 was less complex and far cheaper to produce—but could hold its own against the more sophisticated American jet. The best Soviet ...

The Indian Air Force will bid farewell to the MiG-21 ‘Night 21’ after 63 years of service. The decommissioning ceremony, which will be attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, will mark the end of ...

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid a heartfelt tribute to the legendary MiG-21 fighter jet, describing it as more than just an aircraft. Calling it a living testament to India’s enduring defence ties ...

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union operated thousands of MiG-21 fighter jets. Since MiG-21s were fast, cheap, and capable of both fighter and ground attack missions, it was inevitable that American ...

Click to open image viewer. The MiG-21 was the Soviet Union's first truly modern, second-generation jet fighter. Testing began in 1956, and the first version entered service in 1960 as the MiG-21F-13.

August 13, 2025: Next month India will retire the last of its Russian-designed MiG-21 fighters. India is the last major country to abandon MiG-21s. This aircraft entered service in 1959. In 1986 ...