India seeks to end use of MIG-21's, purchases western aircraft

Robert Besser
02 Aug 2022, 20:53 GMT+10

India will ground all of its Soviet-era Russian MiG-21 fighter jets by 2025, according to reports in the Times of India
The move comes following the death of two Indian officers in a crash, the latest in a series of casualties involving the single-engine jet
The Wion news outlet reported that the Indian air force has some 70 MiG-21s, but the defence ministry has been purchasing more Western-made aircraft in recent years

DELHI, India: India will ground all of its Soviet-era Russian MiG-21 fighter jets by 2025, according to reports in the Times of India.

The move comes following the death of two Indian officers in a crash, the latest in a series of casualties involving the single-engine jet, the paper added, quoting an unnamed Indian Air Force official as stating that the MiG-21s are long past their retirement age, but must be replaced before being grounded.

Also, the Wion news outlet reported that the Indian air force has some 70 MiG-21s, but the defence ministry has been purchasing more Western-made aircraft in recent years.

While declining to confirm or deny the Times of India report, a senior defence ministry official told Reuters that discussions on the future of the MiG-21 were underway, as sourcing of spare parts from Russia was increasingly difficult due to the war in Ukraine.

Dubbed "flying coffins" by the Indian press, the MIG-21 has been the country's key fighter jet since its introduction in 1963, and has been used to strike neighboring rival Pakistan after an alleged suicide attack in the disputed Kashmir region in 2019.

This week's crash of an Indian air force MiG-21 Bison in the desert state of Rajasthan brings the number of MiG-21 crashes since last year to six, with five officers being killed.

In 2012, India's Defence Minister, A.K. Antony, told parliament that more than half of India's 872 MiG-21s had been lost to crashes over the previous four decades.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Kolkata Sun.

More Information

38 ℃

Haze in Kolkata/Bose

International

Section

Japan: PM's son resigns for holding party at official residence

TOKYO, Japan: After coming under public criticism for using Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's residence for a private party, his ...

Remains identified of US pilot from Pennsylvania killed during WWII

WASHINGTON D.C.: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced that 2nd Lt. James Litherland of South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, an Army ...

ACC sues Dr. Yunus, 12 others over embezzlement of $2,351,758

DHAKA, Bangladesh - The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against 13 members of Grameen Telecom's board of directors, ...

Washington coordinates 14-country supply chain agreement

WASHINGTON D.C.: The U.S. Commerce Department has said that trade ministers from 14 countries have taken part in the US-led ...

Injuries at Churchill Downs sees 12 horses dead in month

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky: Two horses that succumbed to their injuries at Churchill Downs have become the 11th and 12th fatalities over ...

Musk's Neuralink to begin trial human brain implants

FREMONT, California: Brain implant company Neuralink announced that it has received approval from US regulators to begin human brain implant ...

India

Section

India readies graft charges against BAE, Rolls-Royce for jet trainers

NEW DELHI, India: Indian federal police documents indicate that the country has filed a graft case against the UK's BAE ...

Dahal, Modi agree to expand trade, build Siliguri-Jhapa Petroleum Pipeline

NEW DELHI, India - Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal met with Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in ...

Washington coordinates 14-country supply chain agreement

WASHINGTON D.C.: The U.S. Commerce Department has said that trade ministers from 14 countries have taken part in the US-led ...

US-bound Chinese flights avoiding Russian airspace Reuters

Washington is reportedly seeking to protect domestic carriers which are banned from Russian skiesChinese airlines are avoiding Russian airspace in ...

Nurturing Growth: The Significance of Mentorship and the Role of Acquisition Plug in Building a Profitable Freelancing Agency

VMPLNew Delhi [India], June 2: In the fast-paced world of business, having a mentor can be a game-changer for entrepreneurs ...

Top financial minds hail India GDP numbers, paint bullish outlook

New Delhi [India], June 2 (ANI): Indian economy grew more than various experts and global agencies initially estimated for 2022-23. ...

Movie Review

The Past (Le pass)

Past