Why in news?

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will retire its MiG-21 fighter jets in September 2025, marking the end of their six-decade service. This will reduce IAF’s fighter strength to 29 squadrons, well below the sanctioned 42. The IAF is awaiting delayed deliveries of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-Mk1A to replenish its fleet.

Meanwhile, China has significantly bolstered its air power with 1,300 fourth-generation aircraft and two fifth-generation jets (J-20 and J-31), highlighting the urgency for India to induct 400-450 advanced combat jets to maintain strategic parity.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• About MiG-21
• Legacy of MiG-21s: From Supersonic Pioneers to 'Flying Coffins'
• IAF’s Fighter Strength Faces Critical Challenges
• Delays in LCA Mk1A Deliveries
• The Way Forward

About MiG-21

• The MiG-21 is a single-engine, single-seater multi-role fighter and ground attack aircraft that has served as the backbone of the Indian Air Force (IAF) for decades.
• First inducted in 1963 as an interceptor, the aircraft was progressively upgraded for various combat roles, including ground attacks.
• India has procured over 700 MiG-21s across different variants such as Type-77, Type-96, and BIS, with the latest being the Bison, upgraded with advanced avionics, missiles, and radars.

Legacy of MiG-21s: From Supersonic Pioneers to 'Flying Coffins'

• Inducted after the 1962 war with China, the MiG-21s marked the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) entry into supersonic aviation and were its first non-western fighters.
• License-produced by HAL, they served as the IAF’s backbone for decades.
• However, a series of crashes in the 2000s—partly due to the lack of Advanced Jet Trainers—earned them the infamous tag of "flying coffins," with nearly 500 accidents and over 450 fatalities since 1965.
• Notably, during the 2019 aerial skirmish with Pakistan post-Balakot strikes, a MiG-21 flown by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was shot down.
• Advanced variants like the MiG-21 Bison are now being phased out, with the final two squadrons set to retire by September 2025.
• The IAF's fighter strength currently stands at 29 squadrons, far below the sanctioned 42, relying heavily on Su-30MKIs, MiG-29s, Mirage-2000s, Jaguars, and LCA Tejas for operational capability.

IAF’s Fighter Strength Faces Critical Challenges

• IAF faces a significant depletion in its combat fleet with the impending retirement of MiG-21s and Jaguars by 2030, potentially reducing its strength by around 16 squadrons.
• Without fresh inductions, the IAF's squadron count could fall below 30 in the coming years, far short of the sanctioned 42.
• While future projects like the Medium Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) and the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) are in development, their timelines remain uncertain.
• Currently, the IAF operates only two squadrons of the LCA Mk1, with the more advanced Mk1A variant facing manufacturing delays.
• Despite a contract for 83 Mk1As signed in 2021, the expected deliveries starting March 2024 have been postponed, further straining the IAF’s modernization efforts.

Delays in LCA Mk1A Deliveries

• Under a $6.5 billion deal, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was to deliver 83 Tejas Mk1A jets—including 73 fighters and 10 trainers—starting March 2024, but not a single aircraft has been delivered yet.
• Production has now been expedited, with eight jets expected this fiscal year and the rest by 2028.
• To address these delays, an Empowered Committee for Capability Enhancement (CECE) identified key vendor ecosystem improvements.
• The Mk1A, designed to replace ageing MiG-21s, is critical for the IAF's fleet, which also includes older MiG-29s and Jaguars from the 1980s.
• Additionally, HAL is working on LCA Mk2 and is set to receive 99 engines from GE Aerospace for ongoing production.
• Meanwhile, India has procured 272 Su-30MKIs from Russia, of which around 200 are operational.
• To replace losses, the Ministry of Defence signed a ₹1,300 crore deal in December for 12 new Su-30MKIs, with the engines licence-produced by HAL.

The Way Forward

• IAF has charted an ambitious plan to induct over 600 fighter jets in the next two decades, with a significant focus on indigenous LCA variants.
  • This includes 180 LCA-Mk1A, over 120 LCA-Mk2, 114 Medium Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA), and at least 120 Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
• A Twin-Engine Deck Based Fighter for the Navy is also on the drawing board. However, these plans depend on timely production and deliveries.
• As an interim measure, India is exploring the limited import of fifth-generation fighters, considering options like the Russian Su-57 and American F-35.
• The AMCA, envisaged in two phases—Mk1 with GE414 engines and Mk2 with a co-developed 110KN engine—is central to India’s future air combat capability.
• The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has invited private sector participation for AMCA production, marking a shift from past practices.
• However, the MRFA program, for which an RFI was issued in 2019, remains stalled due to its high cost and competing priorities.
• The IAF’s modernisation drive now hinges on the successful execution of these parallel programs and strategic collaborations.