Seen in this picture in Moscow are Indian Ambassador to Russia Ajai Malhotra, Air Attaché Air Commandore Vikram Singh, Naval Attaché Commodore Ajay Vinay Bhave, with senior RAC-MiG officials. India’s tryst with Mikoyan-Gurevich began in 1962 with a first agreement for the supply of MiG-21 fighter jets. Deliveries of the first MiG-21F-13s began the following year. The first license built MiG-21 was delivered to the IAF by HAL in 1967. Lots on the MiG-21 coming up here on Livefist.
Nothing to be proud of.. it is a shame in 50 years we could not rollout a good fighter.!!! It may be proud moment for MIG as they have protected India and its interest for 50 years.
Shame on this system which encourages this!!.
It was and it is a fruitful cooperation. The only problem was that the Mig-21's should have been somehow allowed to retire a few years earlier.
It was and it is a fruitful cooperation. The only problem was that the Mig-21's should have been somehow allowed to retire a few years earlier.
Bottom line is we should have phased out the Mig 21couple decades again. It belongs to the museum not in IAF hangers. The IAF shouldn't be "celebrating" 50 with any fighter jet. Especially one that has coated so many lives of young pilots. It's marking of 50 is simply a joke and must never be repeated again. It's criminal.
Still can't believe Mig 35 lost the MMRCA tender. Hail Indo – Russia friendship. Cheers.. 🙂
Indian Air Force destroyed MIG credibility. Earned the magnificent sobriquet flying coffins. Hope they dont repeat the same with in coming Rafales.
I can see stupidity coming to the fore here. Give a person anonymity and he will prove how much nonsense he can provide..
THe MIG-21 is,was and will be always be regarding as a legendary fighter. The first areodynamically stable MACH 2 fighter built in the world it was a witness of soviet ingenuity and design brilliance. The MIGs have gone through various updations and improvements to make them a match for the fighters of the current generation. The latest upgrade the Mig-21 Bison has a Datalink, powerful radar and BVR capability along with extreme acceleration speeds that make it a worthy opponent. It was considered one of the best point defence fighters of its era and still stands tall today.
The CRASHES in the mig-21 during early 2000's happened entirely with the olderr airframes in the IAF like the FL series. All these have been phased out. All it was due to bad and faulty parts bought due to coruption. Nothing to do with the fighter. Just because you guys saw Rang De Basanthi does not make the first couple of commentators any more knowledable on attrition rates of the IAF fighters. Watch the movie and eat melodrama pop corn but research before commenting on serious stuff….
Hello intelligent
What about sea harriers. Shameless only 11 left. Whats your justification. Dont tell air frames story
Guys ..looking at the current situation of the MMRCA deal …who knows we may end up using the MIG21 for next 50 years..or even further ..
Anyway we appreciate the 50 years of cooperation with MIG
Hell, 50 years and NOT ONE decent Indian fighter aircraft. Ab kya chulu bhar pani mein doob jana chahiye?
This is the state of the nation as violent & volatile neighbors roll out 5gen fighters, we hang on to dear past making obsolete methods of warring our only hopes for defence. 50 years of Mig21, 25 years in making a modern fighter…And Indian Military gets represented by a man wearing Lungi internationally !
@11:36 PM…
who told you that… ???… heard of kurt tank… and his fighter designs… ???… India missed… industrial revolution… our engineering & manufacturing… sucks… affects jet engine dev… else…
@Ram
Reagrdless of how good the Mig 21 used to be 50 years ago. Today is it is nothing more then an easy target for the enemy. The Mig 21bison does not have a "powerful radar", it's BVR capability is modest. It's range and payload sucks. It's no good for air superiority or deep strike penetration with heavy payloads. Let alone the fact that it is out matched by every modern fighter in the world. Modern airfighter capabilities have gone far ahead to make the Mig 21 and antique piece. China is already on to developing low observable stealthy fighters. A mig 21 with its legendary past is not going to last too long in a full on modern air combat with an sufficiently advanced adversary.
Yes 50 years on and still we are not able to produce a decent MMRCA but IAF is busy in celebrating 50 years of MIG-21.Yes I do accept the fact MIG-21 was the result of SOVIET era ingenuity and design brilliance but there is something called as fact,can a MIG-21 operate in an area denial zone at present scenario or can it perform the the role of ground attack in an area denial zone.
And yes don't forget during Kargil 1999 "OPERATION SAFED SAGAR" first casualties were MIG-21 & MIG-27 paki's were able to bring down MIG-21's with stinger missiles then IAF revised the strategy & used Mirage 2000 @ 33,000 feet above sea level to bomb porkis.
MIG-21 is no match for present scenario threats it's just a Vintage Glorious Warrior supposed to be celebrating 50th year in Air Museum rather than being in IAF squadron.
Yes 50 years on and still we are not able to produce a decent MMRCA but IAF is busy in celebrating 50 years of MIG-21.Yes I do accept the fact MIG-21 was the result of SOVIET era ingenuity and design brilliance but there is something called as fact,can a MIG-21 operate in an area denial zone at present scenario or can it perform the the role of ground attack in an area denial zone.
And yes don't forget during Kargil 1999 "OPERATION SAFED SAGAR" first casualties were MIG-21 & MIG-27 paki's were able to bring down MIG-21's with stinger missiles then IAF revised the strategy & used Mirage 2000 @ 33,000 feet above sea level to bomb porkis.
MIG-21 is no match for present scenario threats it's just a Vintage Glorious Warrior supposed to be celebrating 50th year in Air Museum rather than being in IAF squadron.
@joy
The MIG-21 was never INTENDED to be a deep penetration fighter. IT was always a point defence role with good interceptor capabilities. It is a gas guzzler. We have the JAGS and future Rafales for this role.
Note: I never mentioned that the MIG-21 is better than the fighters of todays era. Obviously NOT. But it can definitely give a fight after the upgradation program . Thats what I meant. Read up on the cope India -2004 and the US pilots assesment of the mig-21 to understand more on what i have said.
WE ARE NOT going to be fighting the f-22 any time soon. THe capabilities of the niegbhourhood is not better.
As for China LOL… they have made a good design and fly by model . But right now thats all that it is…No engine comparable to a 5th gen fighter…No known electronics advancements….no known AESA radar…NO 5th gen missile components to go along…ITS THE WHOLE PACKAGE that makes a 5th gen fighter not just a nicely design aircraft body.
Note I am not saying the chinese cant make it , only currently and forseeable future the military complex is not advanced enough.
ALSO this article is about 50 year of the MIGS in IAF. that why I listed out the true capabilities of the IAF when people where pissing on it…no where have I said its the best today…
yeah i agree with 3:51 Anonymous it's correct Kurt Tank was German Aeronautical Engineer as well as test pilot.He moved on to India after WW2 and he was the Director of Madras Institute of Technology, guys Dr.Abdul Kalam was his student @ MIT yeah we missed his revolutionary designs he is the Principal designer of Marut @ HAL had we capitalized his inputs we would have moved forward.yeah truuly our Manufacturing & Fabrication techniques sucks all most every CNC Machine in Idustry is from either Japan,Germany or USA.It's a shame we are the second largest Producers of Engineers & we are not able to build our own CNC Machines.