Core Points - The Indian Air Force officially retired its MiG-21 aircraft after 62 years of service, marking the end of an era for this fighter jet series [1][11] - The retirement ceremony took place in Chandigarh, with the last two squadrons, the 23rd "Black Panther" and the 3rd "Cobra," decommissioning a total of 36 MiG-21 Bison aircraft [1][11] - The event included a live broadcast, aerial displays, and the unveiling of commemorative items by the Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh [1][11][13] Summary by Sections Retirement Ceremony - The ceremony featured the last flight of six MiG-21 Bison aircraft, with one piloted by the Chief of Air Staff, General Amar Preet Singh [3][5] - A water salute was given by fire trucks to welcome the returning aircraft [5] - Other aircraft, including the "Tigre" attack aircraft and LCA "Tejas," participated in the aerial display [6][7] Historical Context - The MiG-21 was introduced to the Indian Air Force in 1963 to counter U.S. U-2 reconnaissance aircraft, with the first batch of 13 MiG-21F-13 delivered [13][15] - Over the years, the Indian Air Force operated various sub-series of the MiG-21, with a total of over 870 units, including more than 600 locally assembled by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) [15][17] Upgrades and Capabilities - In 2001, 125 MiG-21 Bis aircraft were upgraded to the MiG-21 Bison standard, enhancing their combat capabilities with modern avionics and weapon systems [17] - The MiG-21 Bison became the only variant with active radar beyond-visual-range (BVR) combat capability [17] Current Implications - Following the retirement of the MiG-21s, the number of operational squadrons in the Indian Air Force will decrease to 29, significantly below the planned requirement of 42 squadrons due to a lack of new aircraft [17]