IAF still flying 44-year-old MiG-21 fighter jets: Indian air chief

NEW DELHI (92 News) – Exposing the weaknesses of India, Indian Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa said that the Indian Air force (IAF) is still flying 44-year-old MiG-21 fighter jets when no one even drives cars that old. According to the Indian media, speaking at a seminar on modernisation and indigenisation of the IAF, Air Chief Dhanoa in company of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh by his side said, “We are still flying MiG-21 which is 44 year old but nobody driving cars of that vintage.” Dhanoa said the basic version of the Russian fighter jet would be phased out this year. “Hopefully, I will fly the last sortie in September,” he said. It is pertinent to mention here that the aircraft is in service for decades using Indian overhauling components. “Over 95 per cent of components required for the overhauling are made in India. The Russians are not flying the MiGs but we are because we have overhauling facilities,” the Indian air chief mentioned. The jet flown by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, which was shot down by the PAF and its pilot captured in the post Balakot air strikes, was an upgraded variant called the MiG-21 Bison.