New Delhi: The much delayed inevitable finally happened. After 62 years of service, India’s first supersonic jet—the MiG-21—finally bid adieu Friday, leaving the Indian Air Force’s fighter jet squadron strength to a mere 29 for all practical purposes, the lowest since the 1960s.
Once the workhorse of the IAF, the MiG-21 was the mainstay of the force, with the Air Force inducting a total of 870 of them in multiple variants.
It was in 1983 that India decided to build a new light combat aircraft to replace the MiG-21s, 870 of which were built by India.
The MiG-21s continued to fly, being stretched beyond they should ideally have been, ending up with the moniker—the flying coffin—a disservice to the fighter that saw action in all conflicts fought by India, including the Balakot attack period in 2019.
But now it has gone, leaving the IAF in a very tight spot. While on paper the squadron strength may remain 31, the fact is that for all practical purposes, the strength is down to 29.
And this includes two squadrons of the Tejas in IOC and FOC versions also.
The IAF is also looking at seeking government approval to go beyond the sanctioned fighter squadron strength of 42. They are now looking at squadrons based on generational capabilities.
This will include upgraded Su 30 MKIs, Rafale manufactured in India, Tejas MK1As (180 of which have been ordered), Tejas Mk2s, Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and possible procurement of other 5thgeneration type platforms, either as limited numbers in fly away condition or under the Make in India route.
Sources said that by 2030, fighters like the MiG-29, Jaguar and Mirages will start getting phased out slowly.
“All of this depends on the timely delivery of the Tejas Mk1A and Tejas Mk2. We don’t want a repeat of the MiG-21 situation where we kept flying it because its replacement never came,” a source said.
As reported by ThePrint, the delivery of the Tejas MK1A is likely to begin only in the first quarter of 2026 since the IAF is clear that it will accept only fully ready fighters.
Defence sources said that four distinct features that the IAF wanted from the Tejas Mk1A—which itself was a compromise reached in 2015 between it and HAL—have not been completed yet. This includes integration and firing validity of specialised munitions, integration of Electronic Warfare suite, etc.
The actual deliveries were contracted to start from February 2024 but engine delivery delays by American firm GE along with other issues have delayed the programme.
What the IAF plans for the Tejas
While the IAF remains committed to the Tejas programme and has placed orders for 180 Tejas Mk1A, the force is eagerly looking for the Tejas Mk 2 version. The new version is designed to have the capabilities of the Mirage 2000 aircraft and will come with longer endurance and firepower than previous versions. The airframe will also be bigger than the Tejas MK1 and Mk1A versions.
Many within the IAF wanted that instead of the new additional 97 Tejas Mk1A, the focus should have been on Tejas Mk 2.
Sources said the Tejas Mk 2 will match the capabilities of the Mirage 2000 in terms of firepower and will be integrated with the Astra Mk 2 and other new weapons that have been promised by the DRDO.
“Even then it won’t come at par with the capabilities of the Rafale. The IAF can’t have the same kind of fighters, Each fighter is tasked for a specific role,” a source said.
As per the original plan agreed on in 2015, the Tejas Mk2 was supposed to fly first in 2022. Now the plan is that the Tejas Mk2 will make its first flight in 2027.
Former HAL chief R. Madhavan had publicly said in 2021 that the Tejas Mk 2 will fly in 2023.
Sources said that the Tejas MK1 and Mk1A will be utilised by the IAF for defence purposes within India’s air space.
There are some more plans of utilisation being discussed within the IAF and under consideration.
However, Tejas Mk2 is what the IAF has in mind for an outright offensive role once it is integrated with all the desired radars, sensors and ordnance.
The IAF is expected to go in for multiple squadrons of the Tejas MK2, even though it has already committed to seven squadrons.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: When MiG-21 sets, we have a choice: mourn the ghost or harvest the wisdom