MiG series aircraft to be phased out of IAF by 2017: Antony

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force's Soviet-origin MiG series fighter aircraft inventory is slated for replacement by 2017, it was stated in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian parliament, on Wednesday. This would include the upgraded MiG-21 Bis (Bison) fighters, which are still providing yeoman service with the IAF's fighter squadrons.

The Soviet-era MiG-21 was the first truly supersonic fighter jet to be inducted into the IAF in 1963, by way of a counter to the much-touted F-104 Starfighters provided to Pakistan by the United States. It came into its own in the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war and to date continues to impress foreign air forces.

Last it went up against the US Air Force's F-15s in simulated war games conducted under the aegis of Cope India at Gwalior. Operating in tandem with its Russian-designed latter day cousin, the Su-27, it turned out to be a formidable foe by the confession of USAF pilots.

This would be a tribute to its classic design. It has long been enshrined in the world's list of classic fighter designs.  

It was followed in later years by the MiG-23, MiG-25, MiG-27 and the MiG-29, each with its own specific role. At one point of time it is estimated the MiG series aircraft constituted over 75% of India's combat fleet.

But now, with IAF going in for modern 4+generation fighters, the end of the entire MiG era, except for the latest MiG-29s, is in sight.